Portrait of Admiral Samuel Pitchford Cornish (1739-1816), half-length, by a mast, in naval uniform, a baton in his right hand

The sitter was the nephew of Sir Samuel Cornish, Vice-Admiral of the Red Squadron, who was created a Baronet in 1766. On the death of his uncle, without issue in 1770, the baronetcy became extinct, but the manors of Sharnbrook, Tofte and Temple Hill in Berkshire, which his uncle had purchased from Sir Philip Boteler, Bt. of Kent, were bequeathed to the sitter, formerly Samuel Pitchford, who then assumed the name Cornish.

He also had an illustrious naval career, he was appointed Captain on 24 August 1761, Rear Admiral of the Blue in 1790, Rear Admiral of the Red in 1793, Vice Admiral of the Blue and White in 1794, Vice Admiral of the Red in 1795, Admiral of the Blue in 1799, Admiral of the White in 1801 and Admiral of the Red in 1805.

His uncle was also painted by Tilly Kettle, An Admiral in his cabin issuing orders (1768, exhibited Society of Artists).