West
BENJAMIN, an painter; born in Springfield, Pa., Oct. 10, 1738, of Quaker parents. After sev- WEST, BENJAMIN, an American eral years of portrait painting in Laneral years of portrait painting in Lancaster, Philadelphia, and New York City, he went to Rome, Italy, in 1760, and proceeded to England in 1763, where he made his permanent residence. One of his earliest friends was Dr. Drummond, Archbishop of York, who introduced him Regulus from Rome," and whose patronto George III., by whose order he executed his picture of "The Departure of the death of Sir Joshua Reynolds, in 1792, West, who had been a member of age he enjoyed for about 40 years. On the Royal Academy from its foundation, was elected president; which chair he enjoyed, with the exception of a short interval, till the close of his life. His WEST ALLIS "Death of General Wolfe" was among the first of his productions that attracted public notice, especially for the rational innovation on which he had ventured in it, of painting historical personages in a modern dress. Among his later works were "Death on the Pale Horse," and "Christ Healing the Sick." There is in the Pennsylvania Hospital, in Philadelphia, a copy (with some alterations) of "Christ Healing the Sick," which was presented to it by West. He died in London, March 11, 1820.