Sir William Henry Fremantle GCH PC (1766-1850), Treasurer of the Royal Household, 1833

Oil on board, signed and dated lower left, 'A Dubois Drahonet 1833', by Alexandre-Jean Dubois Drahonet (1791-1834), 1833.

Sir William Fremantle is shown wearing court dress and the sash and badge of the Knight Grand Cross (GCH).

William Fremantle served as an ensign in the 66th Foot from 1782 before being promoted lieutenant in the 105th Foot in 1783 and captain-lieutenant of the 103rd Foot in 1783. He was on half pay from 1783 until he was promoted captain of the 60th Foot in 1787 and transferring to the 58th Foot the following year before selling his commission in 1789.

Fremantle was on the staff of the Duke of Wellington before serving as aide-de-camp to the Marquis of Buckingham when he was lord lieutenant of Ireland from 1782, and later as his private secretary. This experience led Fremantle to be appointed Resident Secretary for Ireland in 1789. He served as an officer in the Buckinghamshire Yeomanry from 1795.

In 1806, Freemantle began his parliamentary career, when he was elected the Member of Parliament for Enniskillen. He later stood in Harwich, Saltash, Tain Burghs and Buckingham. Fremantle was a privy counsellor from 1822 and was created a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Guelphic Order in 1827. He was Treasurer of the Royal Household during the reign of King William IV (from 1826-1837) and Deputy-Ranger of Windsor Great Park from 1830 until his death.