It depicts the British politician Henry Addington who served as Speaker of the House of Commons from 1789 to 1801.

[1] Addington is depicted at full-length in his speaker's robes with the ceremonial mace on the table and view of the House of Parliament on the left.

[2] It was one of four paintings Copley submitted to the Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition at Somerset House.

It was criticised in a review in the Whitehall Evening Post.

[3] Today the painting is in the collection of the Saint Louis Art Museum in Missouri.