The subject, son of Daniel James and Elizabeth Woodbridge (Phelps) James, was born in Liverpool, England, where his father was resident partner of the American firm of Phelps, Dodge and Co. He was educated in England and Scotland before settling in New York in 1849. Within five years he became a junior partner in Phelps, Dodge and remained with that firm until his death.

This painting is based on a portrait by Joseph S. Duplessis that was owned by the artist. Duplessis first painted Franklin's portrait in Paris in 1778, and this original is now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Numerous copies were made from it by Duplessis and other artists in the years that followed.

The son of a German immigrant grocer of New York, John Wakefield Francis graduated from Columbia College in 1809 and went on to distinguish himself as a doctor, teacher, and author. He was librarian of The New-York Historical Society from 1812 tp 1818 and its corresponding secretary in 1817-18. This portrait was executed for the American Art-Union, of which the subject was the first president (1831-41).

The noted actor Edwin Forrest achieved his first fame in New York at the Park Theatre in 1826, in the role of Othello. For the next quarter century he was America's leading tragedian, rivaling such English stars as Edmund Kean and William Macready.

The subject, who was born in England and came to America around 1810, was one of the partners of J. and R. Fisher, flint glassmakers of New York. The style of the clothing suggests that the original on which this portrait was based was painted about 1835-40; it was copied by Spencer eight years after the death of the subject. This portrait was a gift to the Society from the subject's grandniece.

A descendant of Thomas Fish who had settled in New England in 1643, Preserved Fish was born in Portsmouth, R.I., the son of a blacksmith of the same unusual name. He moved to New York and with three associates from New Bedford, the Grinnell brothers, organized the firm of Fish and Grinnell in 1815, originally dealing in whale oil; later it became one of the leading mercantile houses in the city. From 1836 to his death, Fish was president of the Tradesmen's Bank of New York.

In this painting, the subject is represented in the pose of Leonardo's "Mona Lisa."

Henry B. Brevoort of New York was commissioned second lieutenant in the United States Army in 1801, first lieutenant in 1805, and captain in 1811; he served during the War of 1812 and fought in the Battle of Lake Erie on September 10, 1813. Many, many portraits of the military heroes of the War of 1812 were done in the aftermath of the conflict. Otis followed the lead of fellow-Philadelphian Thomas Sully in creating a colorful, heroic, and handsome portrait.

Breese, a career naval officer, was born in Utica, New York, and participated in the Battle of Lake Champlain during the War of 1812. Since this portrait was painted two years after his death, the likeness must have been taken from either a photograph or another oil painting, possibly one executed earlier by Huntington himself.