Identified as Thomas Bayes (d. 1761) in Terence O'Donnell, History of Life Insurance in Its Formative Years (Chicago: American Conservation Co:, 1936), p. 335 (caption "Rev. T. Bayes: Improver of the Columnar Method developed by Barrett.")

Again reprinted in Stephen M. Stigler, Springer Statistics Calendar 1981 (Springer-Verlag, New York, 1980).

A challenge "Who Is this gentleman? When and where was he born?" was published in IMS Bulletin, Vol. 17, No. 1, January/February 1988, page 49. The results were published in IMS Bulletin, Vol. 17 (1988), No. 3, pp. 276–278.[1]

David R. Bellhouse of University of Western Ontario in a reply argued that the man depicted being Thomas Bayes is unlikely, as

"The first thing to note in this picture is the apparent absence of a wig, or if a wig is present, it is definitely the wrong style for the period. [...] The second thing to note is that Bayes appears to be wearing a clerical gown like his father or a larger frock coat with a high collar [...] the gown is not in style for Bayes's generation and the frock coat with a large collar is definitely anachronistic. [...] For reference, I have used C. Willett Cunnington and P. Cunnington, Handbook of English Costume in the Eighteenth Century, pub. Faber & Faber, London, 1964."

Bellhouse compared pictures of other nonconformist ministers, that of Thomas Bayes' father Joshua Bayes (d. 1746), and that of Richard Price (1776).

Compare File:Philip Doddridge.jpg for the portrait of a nonconformist minister of Thomas Bayes' generation (dated 1751).