James Phinney Baxter (1831-1921) was mayor of Portland for six terms between 1893 and 1905.

Baxter, who began the Baxter Canning Co., was a founder of the Portland Society of Art, the Portland Public Library, and served as president of the Maine Historical Society from 1890-1921.

Artist Frederic Vinton, a native of Bangor, painted Baxter's portrait in 1883. Later, Baxter commissioned Joseph B. Kahill (1882-1957) to copy the Vinton portrait. This portrait was painted in 1908.

The back of the canvas says "Portrait of Hon./James P. Baxter 1883". A label/tag on the front of the frame says "James Phinney Baxter,/Portand, Maine./1831 - 1921/President of Maine historical Society/1890-1921/President to the Society by/Percival P. Baxter, Governr of Maine."