Thomas Beckwith facts for kids

Thomas Beckwith (born February 10, 1731, died February 17, 1786) was an English painter. He was also a genealogist, someone who studies family histories. And he was an antiquary, meaning he collected and studied old things.

Early Life and Art

Thomas Beckwith was born in Rothwell, West Yorkshire. His father was a lawyer. Thomas learned to be a house-painter from George Fleming in Wakefield. George taught him how to draw and paint. Later, Thomas started his own painting business in York.

He painted many portraits of people. He also made drawings of old objects, local churches, and ruins. Some of these drawings he finished using watercolors.

Studying History and Families

Thomas Beckwith became very knowledgeable about heraldry, which is the study of coats of arms and symbols. He also knew a lot about the family trees of local people. He collected all this information in many volumes of notes. People said he spent a lot of time gathering these historical and family records. His notes were so many that they ended up in almost every collection of old manuscripts from that time.

He was chosen to be a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London. This is a group for people who study history and old things. Thomas also wrote a book about the history of York called "A Walk in and about the city of York," but it was never published.

Inventing New Crayons

In 1781, Thomas Beckwith received a special patent for new crayons. A patent means he had the official right to make and sell his invention. These crayons were for drawing and came in many colors. He said they were better than any crayons made before. His new crayons could be sharpened just like a pencil. A company in London, run by an artist supplier named George Riley, was allowed to make and sell these crayons.

Family Life

Thomas Beckwith's wife, Frances, passed away on August 29, 1773, when she was 36 years old. Thomas himself died in York on February 17, 1786. His son, Ray Beckwith, became a medical doctor and worked in York.

A portrait of Thomas Beckwith was made by an artist named William Doughty.