Vice-Admiral John Graydon (circa 1666-1726), late 17th to early 18th century (oil painting)

Creator: Sir Godfrey Kneller A three-quarter length portrait of Graydon wearing a brown velvet coat and brown full bottom wig. He holds a baton in his right hand as he leans against a rock. His left hand rests on the hilt of his sword. There are distant ships on the horizon in the left background. Graydon commanded the 'Saudadoes' at Bantry Bay in 1689 and the 'Hampton Court' at Barfleur in 1692. As a flag officer during the War of the Spanish Succession, he took part in the British victory at Vigo Bay 1702 and was responsible for conveying the captured ships on the voyage home. He was commander-in-chief in the West Indies 1703, the same year that he commanded an attempt to take the French settlement of Placentia in Newfoundland. This failed largely due to sickness and foul weather. He was cashiered for this failure and not employed again. The portrait is inscribed 'John Grayden, Vice Admll of the Red, done by Sr Godfrey Kneller' and was presented IV to the Greenwich Hospital Collection by King George IV in 1824.