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Beechey's numerous patrons included George III and George IV. In June 1826 he was paid £157.10.0. for this portrait, commissioned by Caernarfon Corporation for their Grand Jury Room. His signature appears on the letter beside the sitter. Thomas Assheton-Smith (1752-1828) was a landowner at Vaenol, Bangor. He was High Sheriff of Caernarfonshire in 1774-84. From 1809 he developed slate mining on his estates and in 1826 employed 800 quarrymen producing 20,000 tons of slate.