William Conway Gordon was the natural son of Lord William Gordon. He entered the Bengal service in 1815, belonging to the 53rd Native Infantry. The present portrait was painted when he was A.D.C. to Sir Peregrine Maitland in Madras in 1836. He returned to England in 1842.

A. E. Penley started as a miniaturist later becoming watercolour painter to both King William IV and Queen Adelaide.