The 3rd Duke of Northuberland was born on 20th April 1785 and educated at Eton and St. John's College, Cambridge. After serving as an M.P. he was summoned to the House of Lords as Baron Percy in 1812 and subsequently succeeded his father in 1817. In 1819 he received the Order of the Garter and was bearer of the second sword at the coronation of George IV in 1821. In 1825 he was sent to Paris as ambassador extraordinary to represent the British Crown at the Coronation of Charles X. Northumberland personally bore the exorbitant cost of the mission; the jewels and silver alone were insured for ¨200,000. On his return the Government showed its appreciation by presenting him with a diamond hilted sword valued at ¨10,000.

Walter Jackson was probably the most gifted of the early nineteenth century engravers and is known to have engraved silver for both King George III and the Prince Regent. His work is perhaps best shown on the large silver-gilt trays which became popular at this time, predominantely made by Benjamin and James Smith, Paul Storr and Philip Rundell and retailed by the Royal Goldsmiths