James Gillray

James Gillray was predicted to have been born on the 13th of August 1756 or 1757 in Chelsea, London, and died on the 1st of June 1815. 

Gillray had began life by learning letter engraving at which he quickly adapted to from his young age and upwards, though it didn't result in stable employment for his future. Once becoming a student in the 'Royal Academy of Arts', he supported himself by continuing with letter engraving and issuing a number of prints and 'caricatures' under fictional (fake) names, possibly to avoid criticism and negative feedback.

The 'Royal Academy of Arts' is an art institution in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London, established in 1768. It was privately funded and led by artists and architects with a purpose to promote the creation, enjoyment and appreciation of the arts through exhibitions, debates and education.

His 'caricatures' were almost all in etching, which was a traditional process of using strong acid to cut into parts of a metal surface to create a design. Some also with aquatint and a few using the 'stipple' technique.

He studied William Hogarth works in his early years, and when compared to James Gillray's work, there does seem to be some resemblances. 

'Paddy on Horseback' was one of Gillray's first official caricatures which appeared in 1779.

Miss Hannah Humphrey was James Gillray's publisher and print seller which he lived with most of the time during his entire period of fame, her shop being firstly at 227 Strand, then New Bond Street then in Old Bond Street and then finally in St James Street. James Gillray made a caricature of  the lack of courtesy on Bond Street with men taking up the footpath. The southern section of Bond Street named 'Old Bond Street', the longer northern section being 'New Bond Street'.