Portrait of Captain Hercules Baker (1689-1744), three-quarter-length, in a blue velvet coat, a gold and silver embroidered waistcoat and lace cravat, an English man-o'-war ship in a swell beyond

The sitter was nephew of Vice-Admiral John Baker (see lot 9), whose estate at East Langdon he inherited, and eldest son of James and Amye Baker. He was made Lieutenant in the Royal Navy in 1708 and promoted to the rank of Captain on 1 January 1713. After retiring from the sea, he served as Member of Parliament for the Cinque port of Hythe from 1722 and held the prestigious post of Treasurer of Greenwich Hospital from 1736 until his death on 1 November 1744. His wife (see lot 12) had died earlier that year and the estate at East Langdon was inherited by his nephew, Lieutenant Thomas Baker of the Royal Navy, son of Edward Baker, Rear-Admiral, and Sarah Bentley of Deal.