Thomas Wilson (1703-84), son of the Bishop of Sodor and Man, was the Prebendary of Westminster and Rector of St. Stephen's, Walbrook. He was an influential man by whose acquaintance Joseph Wright hoped to strengthen his connections at a time when he was experiencing some hardship in Bath. In a letter to his brother dated Bath, April 16, 1776 he writes 'I am now painting a half-length of D. Wilson and his adopted daughter, Miss Macauley: this is for reputation only but you must not say so' and he continues in the same letter 'The Doctor is a very popular man and is fighting in my name stoutly, for he thinks me ill treated: he wishes he had known of my being in Bath five or six months ago, he could have been of use to me...' (W. Bemrose, op. cit. p. 45 and B. Nicolson, op. cit., I, p. 226).

Though depicted as a young woman, Catherine Macauley (1731-91) was forty-three at the time. She was a well known historian, causing some controversy with the publication of her History of England (1763) which she is seen discussing with the Rev. Wilson in the present painting. At the time of depiction 'Miss' Macauley had already been widowed and had a daughter. Shortly after her arrival in Bath in 1774 she met the Rev. Wilson who was fascinated by her knowledge, holding such a high opinion of her that in 1777 he had a marble statue of her sculpted by J.F. Moore which was erected within the altar-rails of St. Stephen's, with a small vault which was to be her shrine. He placed his own residence, Alfred House, at her disposal and she took up residence soon after. Upon her second marriage to William Graham, who was twenty-four years her junior, Catherine Macauley lost many of her friends and allies including Thomas Wilson who threatened to bar her from Alfred House and who removed the statue from St. Stephen's, destroying the vault.

Despite the friendship of such influential figures, Joseph Wright never succeeded in captivating Bath and he left the city in 1778.