Born in Bristol, Pocock was apprenticed to a shipbuilder and served as a sea-captain. Around 1780 he was encouraged by Sir Joshua Reynolds to turn to painting full time. He specialised in marine subjects and in 1789 moved to London, where he was a founder member of the Watercolour Society. This view was exhibited at the British Institution in 1808. The flat, tonal handling of this oil painting reflects the artist's preference for working in watercolours.