Portrait of Henry Meredyth, seated, three-quarter-length in a blue dressing coat, wearing a blue cap with a letter in his right hand

The sitter was the son of Thomas Meredyth of Newtown, Co. Meath, and was descended from the Rev. Richard Meredyth, Lord Bishop of Leighlin and Ferns, who held the Deanery of St. Patrick's, Dublin. He was a barrister in Dublin, Member of Parliament for Navan, and married Frances Plunkett, of Dillonston, Co. Louth, in 1748. Charles Jervas is recorded as having made frequent visits to Ireland. The first is recorded in 1715. He was in Ireland again in June 1717, staying until September 1721, and again in 1729 and 1734. While in Ireland he painted a number of prominent figures including Speaker Conolly and John Boyle, later 5th Earl of Cork.