Bewick
THOMAS, an English wood engraver, born in Northumberland in 1753. He was apprenticed to Beilby , an engraver in Newcastle, and executed the , and executed' the woodcuts for Hutton's "Mensuration" so admirably that his master advised him to turn his attention to wood engraving.
With this view he proceeded to London , and, in 1775, received the Society of Arts prize for the best wood engraving.
Returning to Newcastle, he entered into partnership with Beilby, and became known as a skilled wood engraver and designer by his illustrations to "Gay's Fables," "Æsop's Fables," etc. He quite established his fame by the issue, in 1790, of his "History of Quadrupeds."
In 1797 appeared the first, and in 1804 the second, volume of his "British Birds," generally regarded as the finest of his works. Among his other works may be cited the engravings for Goldsmith's, "Traveller," and "Deserted Village," Parnell's "Hermit," and Somerville's "Chase." He died in 1828.