It is likely that this portrait is of the James Dundas who was promoted lieutenant on 15 November 1776, serving in the 'Burford' and then the 'Invincible' during the War of American Independence. He was made commander (12 June 1782) and then captain on 21 September 1790. The protrait shows him half length to the right in the uniform of a rear-admiral, a rank he achieved on 6 May 1808. The list of commissioned sea officers indicated that he may have died on 2 June 1811, but the Edinburgh Annual Register states he died on 3 June 1811 aged 64.