Thomas Raikes (1741–1813), Governor of the Bank of England (1797–1799)

This portrait depicts Thomas Raikes (1741–1813), a prominent British merchant, banker, and newspaper proprietor, known for trading with Russia from London. As Governor of the Bank of England during 1797–1799, he played a crucial role amid the currency crisis when the bank was prohibited by the British government from paying out in gold. The painting subtly reflects the elegant style of the Rococo tradition, emphasizing Raikes’s stature in finance and commerce during a turbulent period in British monetary history.