William Williams (artist) facts for kids
William Williams (born 1727 – died 27 April 1791) was a talented painter from Wales who later lived in America. He is also famous for writing a novel called The Journal of Llewellin Penrose, Seaman. Many people think this book was the very first American novel ever written!
Contents
William Williams' Early Life
William Williams was born in Bristol, England. However, his family originally came from Caerphilly, a town in Wales.
Adventures at Sea and a Famous Book
It is thought that William Williams spent his younger years working as a sailor. During this time, he became good friends with another sailor and poet, William Falconer.
Williams later wrote his novel, The Journal of Llewellin Penrose, Seaman. This book tells the story of a sailor who gets stranded in the New World. Many experts believe parts of the book were based on Williams' own life experiences.
Even though it's now considered a very important book, Williams had trouble finding someone to publish it. Back then, people mostly wanted to read true travel stories. His book, which was clearly fiction, didn't fit that trend. The novel was finally published in 1815, but it was a changed version. The original story wasn't published until much later, in 1969.
William Williams' Art Career
Around 1747, after his time at sea, William Williams started living in Philadelphia, America. He played a big part in building America's first theater there. He also had his own art studio called "The Sign of Hogarth's Head."
Williams taught art to many students, including a young Benjamin West. West later became a very famous painter himself. He often said that William Williams was the one who first made him interested in painting.
Williams knew many important people in Philadelphia. These included Benjamin Franklin, a famous inventor and statesman. He also knew Franklin's business partner, David Hall. Other friends included the patriot Benjamin Lay and the theater managers William and Lewis Hallam.
Williams traveled with the Hallam Company and lived for a while in Jamaica. After that, he moved to New York City. There, he married Mary Mare, who was the sister of another artist, John Mare Jr..
In 1776, Williams moved back to England. He lived in London for some time and reconnected with his old friend, Benjamin West. Later, he returned to Bristol, where he continued to paint for several years. Sadly, he faced difficult times towards the end of his life. He passed away in 1791 at the Merchants' and Sailors' Almshouse in Bristol.
William Williams' Legacy
William Williams left his personal belongings to Thomas Eagles. Mr. Eagles was a kind gentleman who helped Williams get into the almshouse where he lived. Williams' belongings included many books, a painting he did of himself (which is now at the Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library), and the original handwritten story of Penrose.
Thomas Eagles' son, Reverend John Eagles, prepared a new version of the Penrose story for publishing. He even included 37 watercolor paintings, mostly by Nicholas Pocock, which were meant to be printed in the book. This version by Eagles came out in 1815, but without the pictures. In 2006, the handwritten copy of this version was bought by the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, UK.
Williams' original handwritten story, which he left to Thomas Eagles, is now kept at Indiana University Bloomington. This original story was copied and published in 1969 by David Howard Dickason.
William Williams' Descendants
William and Mary Williams had one son named William Joseph Williams. He was born in New York City in 1759. William Joseph Williams also became a painter, just like his father. He is known as the first American portrait painter.
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