Head-and-shoulders classical-style marble bust of Edward Troughton, the sitter facing forward and looking slightly down and to his left. The bust itself is set on a later marble plinth with the sitter's name on a marble socle (SCU008). It is inscribed on the flat back 'EDWARD TROUGHTON / F.R.S.' with the signature below 'CHANTREY . SC . 1824'.

According to Troughton's obituary in the 'Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society' (1836) this bust was made 'at the expense of his private friends and admirers', and placed in the Royal Observatory at Greenwich in accordance with his wishes. The preparatory drawings for it were made in 1822 and are now in the National Portrait Gallery.

The commission in fact seems largely to have been funded by Troughton's friend, the amateur astronomer (Sir) James South, but the 100-guinea bill was only partly paid, with 35 guineas still owing when their friendship broke down after 1829 in a dispute over a telescope Troughton had made for South. It is assumed that, after holding the bust against payment, Chantrey eventually cut his losses and sent it tothe Observatory, where is was received before June 1834.

Troughton was one of the leading scientific instrument makers of the late 18th and early 19th century, in partnership with his assistant William Simms from 1826. From 1807 he played a major part in re-equipping the Royal Observatory at Greenwich. In 1820, with South, he was one of the founding members of the (Royal) Astronomical Society and later its vice-president. In 1824, the year this bust was made, he made a long visit to stay with South, who was then observing in France.