Thomas Bewick

Thomas Bewick (August 1753 – November 8, 1828) was an English ornithologist and wood engraver.

Bewick was born in Cherryburn, Northumberland, near Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

His father leased a small coal mine in Mickleybank and sent his son to school in Mickley. Thomas was a bad student but showed a talent for drawing at a very young age although he did not take art lessons. At the age of 14 he was apprenticed to Ralph Beilby, an engraver from Newcastle. In his studio, Bewick engraved a series of woodcut diagrams for Dr. Hutton, illustrating a treatise on measurements. He appears to have then devoted himself entirely to wood engraving and in 1775 he received a prize from the Society for the Encouragement of Arts and Manufactures for the wood engraving of 'Huntsman and the Old Hound';. In 1776 he became a partner in the firm of Beilby.

HisSelect Fables (1784), contained engravings that were far superior to any others made up to that time. The Quadrupeds appeared in 1790, and his great work, British Birds was published between 1797 and 1804. In the making of this work Bewick took advantage of his knowledge of the habits of animals obtained during his constant outings to the field. Other works for which he was well known include the engravings for Oliver Goldsmith, Traveller and Deserted Village, for Thomas Parnell, Hermit, for William Somervile Chase and for the Fables of Aesop and Others collection. Bewick had numerous apprentices, some of whom acquired some distinction as engravers. They include his son and later partner Robert Elliott.

Bewick's work is considered the pinnacle of his field. It is possible that because of his methods, Bewick, unlike his predecessors, was able to carve harder woods using finer tools due in part to metal engraving.

His autobiography, Memoirs of Thomas Bewick, by Himself, appeared in 1862, shortly after his death. A species of swan, the Little Swan (Cygnus bewickii) was named in memory of him.

Thomas Bewick Primary School, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, is named in his honour.