Head-and-shoulders classical-style plaster bust of Admiral William Waldegrave on a low octagonal flat base surmounted by grommet of rope on the front side only. The sitter faces forward, his hair brushed back from a high forehead, and is shown in Roman-pattern armour with oak-leaf decoration, over a tunic, and with a cloak round the shoulders.

The piece is inscribed on the back, 'Wm Behnes Published as per Act / March 21 1818' and a bust of Radstock by Behnes was certainly exhibited at the Royal Academy that year, possibly a plaster, since Behnes' entries in the RA catalogues (as listed by Graves in 1904) are fairly consistent about those which were marble. This one was presented in April 1941 by the 4th Baron Radstock, of Eton Place, London, together with another of George Waldegrave, the 2nd baron (SCU0061).

The sitter was second son of John, 3rd Earl Waldegrave. After seven years at Eton, he joined the Navy in 1766, in the 'Jersey', flagship of the Mediterranean fleet. He was commissioned lieutenant in 1775, commander in 1775 and captain in 1776 when he sailed to India in the 'Rippon', 60 guns, flagship of Sir Edward Vernon. Although briefly at sea in 1790, he spent the next ten years ashore travelling for his health and beginning a family, which included two boys who also became naval officers. At the start of the French Revolutionary Wars he commanded the 'Courageux', 74, under Lord Hood at Toulon and, after some Channel service, the 'Barfleur', 80, under Jervis in the Mediterranean. They did not get on, though he remained long enough to fight at Cape St Vincent in 1797. He was then a vice-admiral (1795, rear-admiral 1794) and from 1797 to 1800 was C-in-C and governor of Newfoundland. He became Baron Radstock in the Irish peerage that December and admiral in 1802, but had no further service. Radstock was a competent rather than especially distinguished officer, and not a notably popular one with his officers. His smooth and relatively fast rise through 28 years of active service is primarily a testament to the power of aristocratic connections.

Behnes (1791/97-1864) was of Hanoverian stock, trained at the RA Schools and from the 1820s to 1840s was England's most prolific and successful portrait sculptor after Chantrey. He was also a good teacher (notable pupils included Thomas Woolner and G.F. Watts), but later became alcoholic and died bankrupt.