Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Ranson, Thomas Frazer
RANSON, THOMAS FRAZER (1784–1828), line engraver, son of Thomas and Mary Ranson, was born at Sunderland, 19 June 1784. He learnt his art at Newcastle-on-Tyne, and in 1814 gained a Society of Arts medal for an engraving. His plates, which are admirably executed, include a portrait of George IV, after E. Scott; a whole-length portrait of Hugh, duke of Northumberland, after T. Phillips, 1820; and ‘Duncan Gray,’ after Sir D. Wilkie, 1822. Ranson was one of the engravers employed upon the official publication, ‘Ancient Marbles in the British Museum.’ In 1818 he was prosecuted by the bank of England for having in his possession a forged note, but was acquitted, it being proved to be genuine; to commemorate the incident, he engraved and published a plate representing himself seated in a cell in Cold Bath Fields prison. Ranson died in 1828.
[Redgrave's Dict. of Artists; Sunderland parish register; list of members of the Artists' Annuity Fund.]