Thomas Wentworth was born in 1672 and appointed at the age of 15 a page of honour to Mary, Queen of James II. Later commissioned into Lord Colchester's regiment he subsequently served with distinction in Holland and in consequence of his bravery he became aide-de-camp to William III. After the battle of Landen in 1693. Wentworth was made groom of the bedchamber and was promoted to Major of the first troop of guards. He was elevated to the peerage as Baron Raby in 1695 and two years later he was given command of the Royal Regiment of Dragoons, becoming Brigadier in 1703, Major General in 1704 and Lieutenant General in 1707. In 1698 he embarked on the first of his diplomatic missions, accompanying the English ambassador, Lord Portland, to Paris. On the coronation of the King of Prussia in 1701. William III sent Wentworth on what was to become a very successful mission as envoy conveying his congratulations. In 1705 Wentworth was promoted to Ambassador-extraordinary and in April made a formal entry into Berlin in his new capacity. In March 1711 Wentworth succeeded Lord Townshend as Ambassador at the Hague and in June was made privy councillor and created Viscount Wentworth of Wentworth-Woodhouse and of Stainborough, and Earl of Strafford. He was made a Knight of the Garter and a Master of Trinity House in 1714/15.

His marriage in 1711 to Anne, only daughter and heiress of Sir Henry Johnson of Bradenham, Buckinghamshire brought a fortune of #60,000. According to Jonathan Swift, Strafford's own income at this time seems to have been about #4,000 a year, "with ready money, investments and plate amounting to #46,000, besides pictures and furniture". Following his impeachment by the Whig government, he retired to his estates and his villa at Twickenham where he enjoyed the company of Alexander Pope and Lady Mary Wortley Montague.

This sideboard dish formed part of an important collection deposited in strong boxes in Glyn, Mills and Co., Lombard Street in 1831 and were withdrawn on a few occasions for the period of the London "season", being returned finally in 1859. They were left in this state, untouched for at least the next 100 years, until five lots, this dish included, were sold at Sotheby's, 27th June, 1963, lots 49-53. Subsequent pieces were sold at Christie's, 23th May, 1990, including a pair of magnificent wine coolers, by David Willaume, lot 230, and a magnificent ewer and basin, engraved with the Royal arms, also by Willaume, lot 231.

Apart from their obvious quality, the main characteristic of all the pieces was their superb condition. It would appear that both the Ambassadorial plate and that commissioned for personal use was merely displayed, and even when finally deposited at Glyn, Mills & Co in 1859 had seen little use.