Produced during the American War of Independence, it shows the king during the response to the Franco-Spanish Armada of 1779 when a combined fleet threatened Britain with invasion indicated by the military encampment and ships in the background.

[2] The king wears military uniform and holds a document outlining troops deployments.

As Commander-in-Chief Amherst was responsible for overseeing defensive preparations to resist any French landing, summoning the militia of several counties and using the 15th Light Dragoons to patrol the coasts of Kent and Sussex, a detachment of whom can be seen in the background.

Out to sea is the British fleet with the HMS Royal George firing a salute.

[3] West was a favoured artist of the king, who commissioned a number of history paintings from him.