Sir Elijah Impey (1732-1809) was a British judge, based predominantly in India. Impey practised law in England for seventeen years and in 1768 he married Mary, the daughter of Sir John Reade, Bt. with whom he had seven children. In 1773, Impey was made Chief Justice Fort William, Bengal and went to Calcutta. His legal career was beset with problems, including allegations of corruption and partiality. He was recalled to England in 1783; his family followed him a year later. He was returned as M.P. for New Romney in 1790 and retained the seat until 1796. He died at Newick Park, Sussex.
Whilst in India, Impey and his wife became early British patrons of Indian artists. The Impeys and Humphrys were close friends and it was Sir Elijah Impeywho encouraged Humphry to go to India in 1785, 'He has been on Sunday last with Sir Elijah and Lady Impey who are old friends of mine. They speak with raptures of the Climate and of every other circumstance in India, and are to return again in the Spring.' The Impey family are recorded four times in Ozias Humphry's fee book; in 1768 Mr Impey Senior paid £12.12.0 and on 5 December, a 'Mr Impey' paid the same fee. In 1769, a 'Mrs Impey' was painted and in 1770, Humphry painted another portrait of 'Mr Impey'. A large-scale portrait on canvas of the sitter by Johann Zoffany of a similar date to the present miniature is in the National Portrait Gallery (inv. no. NPG 335).