This portrait of Sir William Ffarington (1537–1610) of Worden Hall, Leyland was painted by Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger in 1593. FFarington was from one of the most notable families in Lancashire. During his lifetime he held the positions of Deputy Lieutenant of Lancashire, High Sheriff of Lancaster and Constable of Lancaster Castle.

Ffarington also served as steward to three Earls of Derby, who's ancestral home was Knowsley Hall near Liverpool. The Stanley family were famous for their patronage of acting which including the creation of their own troupes the 'Lord Derby's Men' and 'Lord Strange's Men' who were some of the most active companies in the north of England in the late 16th Century. It was Ffarington's responsibility to manage Lord Derby's estate including paying the actors and playwrights used by the earls.

Six of the leading actors in Lord Strange's company later formed the 'Lord Chamberlain's Men' at the Globe Theatre in London. Shakespeare worked with the company for much of his career and wrote many of his most famous plays for them. He had, however, already established his career as a playwright working with most of the same actors while they were part of the Earl of Derby's company.

It has been suggested that William Ffarington was the inspiration for the joyless Malvolio the house steward in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, as he would have been known to Shakespeare in his role as house steward for the Earls of Derby.