Edward Hodges Baily was born in Bristol in 1788, the son of a talented ships carver. He learnt to sculpt first in wax before attracting the eye of John Flaxman who took him on as a pupil for seven years. Baily exhibited at the Royal Academy between 1810 and 1862 winning the gold medal in 1811 and being elected an Academician in 1821. It is unclear whether this bust was exhibited at the Royal Academy in, or around 1848, the date engraved to the reverse of the bust.