A letter dated 3.2.1916 from W. Roberts to Messrs Scott and Fowler (Witt Library) records Roberts having seen the portrait and making an entry for it to be included in the new edition of his catalogue raisonné. He dated the portrait to circa 1785, but owing to the loss of Romney's diary for that year he writes that he cannot throw any further light on the identity of the sitter but speculates it might have been painted on the Captain's promotion or for a member of his family prior to his departure on a voyage.