Sir John Hadley D'Oyly, 6th Bt. (1753-1818) of Shottisham, Norfolk; born in Marylebone, London and entered the East India Service in 1770; he married a widow Mrs Diana Cotes on 16 March 1779 by whom he had two sons, Charles and John. In 1785, Sir John returned to England having built up the family fortunes and spent three years in Dublin from 1800 where he had a brewery. He may well have encountered Chinnery during this time and even encouraged him to make the journey to India. Sir John returned to India in 1804 and held his last appointment with the East India Company as Salt Agent. Chinnery painted several members of the D'Oyly family and was to teach Sir John's eldest son, Charles, a well-respected artist.

Another miniature of Sir John by George Chinnery was sold at Sotheby's, 15 July 1975, lot 42