Gillray, JAMES

Gillray, JAMES, an English caricaturist, born at Chelsea, of humble parentage, in 1757. He first became known as a successful engraver about 1784, and between 1779 and 1811 issued as many as 1500 caricatures, numbers of which, it is said, 'were etched at once upon the copper without the assist- ance of drawings.' They are full of broad humour and keen satire, the subjects of his ridicule being generally the French, Napoleon, George III., and the principal English politicians; he also employed his talents in castigating the social follies of his day. He died in London, 1st June 1815. Gillray lived for many years in the house of the printseller, Miss Humphrey, in London. During the last four years of his life he was insane. His caricatures, which were very popular and not without influence upon public opinion, often rise to a lofty level of conception, and display true artistic feeling. A selection of them was published by M'Lean (accompanied by an illustrative description), in 304 sheets (Lond. 1830). An edition with Life and Times of Gillray, by T. Wright, was issued by Bohn (1851; new ed. 1873).