Admiral Charles Middleton, later Lord Barham (1726-1813), early 19th century (oil on canvas)

Creator: after Isaac Pocock Admiral Charles Middleton (1726-1813) was noted as a skilled, though domineering, administrator and one of the navy's leading evangelical Christians. Born in Bo'ness in Scotland, he joined the Royal Navy and served in the Caribbean during the Seven Years' War (1756-1763). He rose to become Comptroller of the Navy in 1778-1790, and was briefly First Lord of the Admiralty in 1805-1806 at the time of Trafalgar when he began to repair the damage caused by the misplaced reforming zeal of his predecessor but one, Earl St Vincent. Middleton had long been in favour of abolition and corresponded with William Wilberforce.He is depicted in flag officer's full-dress uniform, 1795-1812. Presented by Sir James Caird in 1939 and formerly in the collection of the Countess of Gainsborough. The received information from the 1961 NMM portraits catalogue is that it is a posthumous image, the head being copied from a full-length by Isaac Pocock (1782-1835) although the location of this is not given and the information may derive from the fact that the NMM collection holds a related print. Isaac Pocock was the eldest surviving son of Nicholas Pocock and a pupil of Romney and Beechey. He ceased painting and exhibiting on inheriting his namesake uncle's substantial Maidenhead estate in 1818. He is in fact better known as a playwright, from circa 1810 to his death.