James Stephenson
1808 - 1886
James Stephenson was an English engraver.
Born at Manchester on 26 November 1808, he was the son of Thomas Stephenson, boot and shoe maker, of Stable Street there, near Oldham Street. He was educated at a school kept by Thomas Rain, adjoining Oldham Street chapel, and before the end of his schooldays was apprenticed to John Fothergill, an engraver, of Prince's Court, Market Street. While there he met Henry Liverseege, and, perhaps on his advice, went to London at the end of his apprenticeship and entered the studio of William Finden. While there he gained the silver medal of the Society of Arts for an original design of a figure engraved in line.
About 1838 Stephenson returned to Manchester and established himself as an historical and landscape engraver in Ridgefield, and then in a studio in St. Ann Street. Around 1847 he moved back permanently to London, and from 1856 exhibited regularly at the Royal Academy. He died at his residence in Dartmouth Park Road, London, on 28 May 1886.
Text courtesy of Wikipedia, 2023