The 41-year-old Lord Lauderdale had distinguished himself in the army, but was still young when he resigned and took a seat in the House of Lords (1747–61, 1782–84). He later also served as Lord of Police for Scotland and Rector of Glasgow University. Unequalled in his capacity for flattering portrayal, Reynolds shows a sophisticated young aristocrat leaning on the base of a Solomonic (twisted) column, suggestive of a trip to Italy the Scottish peer never in fact made.