EDW
EGG
demy, in 1792, a pair of goldfinches, and continued to exhibit, but at distant inter- vals, up to 1813, dogs, horses, birds, and flowers. He attracted notice by his work ( Cynographia Britannica.' coloured engrav- ings 01 the various breeds of British dogs. with observations on their properties and uses, and became the first botanical drafts- man of the time, constantly resorting to nature. Hedrewro^Rees , s*Encyclop^Baia, , the 'Flora Londinensis/ the 'Botanical Magazine/ the 'Sportsman's Magazine/ and in 1809 published, himself, ' Represent- ations of 150 Bare and Curious ornamental Plants.' He died at Queen's Elm, Bromp- ton, February 8, 1819, in his 51st year.
EDWARI)S, W. H. . Camden, engraver. Born at Monmouth aoout 1780. He en- graved in the line manner chiefly portraits, practising in Norfolk and Suffolk, and died about 1840.
EDWARDS, William, bridge builder. Born at Eglwysilan, Glamorganshire, in 1719, the son of a farmer, who died when he was only 2 years old. He lived with his mother on a small farm till he was about 16, and showed a natural skill in repairing the stone fences which are used in that county ; built some workshops and mills, and then, with great reliance upon his un- taught skill, undertook the difficult task of throwing a bridge over the Taaf, a river that is subject to violent floods. His first bridge, constructed in three arches, was soon after its completion carried away by a furious flood. He commenced a second with one arch of 140 feet span, which in the progress of the work sprung on the crown, forcing out the key-stones ; not daunted, however, he lightened the pressure on the haunches of the arch by cylindrical openings. It was completed m 1753, and stands to our day a proof of the self-reliant skill of the builder. At the time the arch had the greatest known span, andintroduced its able constructor at once to notice and employment He built some other bridges in Wales, and greatly improved the art of construction. He was called in his own locality * the bridge builder/
He did not learn English till he had passed his 20th year. He studied the man- ner of hewing and dressing his stones from the masonry of the old Welsh castles. He was a man of great probity, was of the sect of Calvinistic Independents, and about 1750 was ordained their minister. He had six children, and his son David was skilful in bridge building, and erected several fine bridges. He died near Caerphilly, August 7 1789.
' EDWARDS, Francis, architect Was born in Southwark, September 3, 1784. He was apprenticed to a cabinet-maker, and cultivating his taste for drawing, was em- ployed in Sir John Soane's office in 18065
and gained admission to the schools of the Royal Academy. In 1809 and 1810 he exhibited at the Academy architectural designs, and in 1811 was successful in com- petition for the Academy gold medal for architecture in his design for a theatre. At this time he left Sir J. Soane's office and was employed as a draftsman, continuing to exhibit at the Academy. He sent in 1813 a design for a theatre, and in 1816 a design for a cathedral. About 1823 he formed some connection, and was employed in valuations and arbitrations, and aid not exhibit after 1830. He built one or two mansions, but had little opportunity to realise his early ability in design. He died in Bloomsbury, August 15, 1857.
EGAN, James, mezzo-tint engraver. Was born in 1799, in the county of Ros- common, of humble parents. In 1825 he was employed by Mr. S. W. Reynolds, and was little better than his errand boy. Being set by his master to prepare his mezzo-tint grounds, he learnt the first step in his future art. Quitting this service he com- menced his career by laying grounds for engravers, and without money, or indeed friends, he relied for success upon his own industry and ability. His application and desire to improve interested all to whom he became known. He worked hard, suffered many privations, but concealed his necessi- ties, while he educated himself in his art. Then, when he was about to reap the. finite of his perseverance, his health failed under the great exertions he had undergone, and he sunk gradually, labouring to the end. His latest work, finished under such trying difficulties, was 'English Hospitality in the Olden Time/ after Cattermoie. He died at Pentonville, October 2, 1842, aged 43, and left a family, to assist whom a sub- scription was raised by his friends.
EGERTON, D. T., landscape painter. He was one of the foundation members of the Society of British Artists, and exhibited with the Society some landscape views and compositions in 1824 and 1829. He was next a contributor, in 1838 and the follow- ing year, of landscapes in Mexico, intro- ducing characteristic groups of figures, which gained him great notice. In 1840 he exhibited his last work, ' Niagara.' He was murdered in Mexico, at a village a few miles from the capital, in 1842. • EGG, Augustus Leopold, R.A., subject painter. He was the son of an eminent gunsmith in Piccadilly, and was born there May 2, 1816. Showing considerable ability in drawing, he entered Sass's Art School in 1834, and the following year was admitted a student of the Royal Academy. In 1837 he exhibited, at the Suffolk Street Gallery, his first picture ; in the following year his ' Spanish Girl/ at the Royal Aca- demy, and from that time he became a
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