Lieutenant (later Lieutenant-General) William Vincent, Bengal Army, 1804 (c)

Oil on canvas, possibly by D C Wint (untraced), 1804 (c).

It is curious that William Vincent (1781-1859), who never served in the 6th Bengal Native Infantry, should be depicted here in the uniform of that unit. However, it is most likely that the portrait was painted shortly after Vincent had arrived in India, having taken part in the expedition to capture Ternate, one of the Dutch Spice Islands, on the outward journey. The island was taken on 21 June 1801 by a detachment of 60 men from the Bengal Marine Battalion under the command of Lieutenant William Gill, 6th Bengal Native Infantry, serving as Marines on board the 'Swift'.

Vincent was given a provisional commission in the Marines under Gill and Gill may therefore have lent Vincent one of his uniforms until the latter was able to order his own regimentals. He was posted as ensign to 20th Native Infantry in 1803, arrived in India on 13 February 1804, and was promoted lieutenant on 29 March 1804.