English engraving — Woollett, William

William Woollett (1735 - 1785) was an English engraver, the most famous British engraver of his day. Woolett was born in Maidstone, of a family which came originally from the Netherlands. He was apprenticed to John Tinney and studied in the St Martin's Lane academy.  In 1775 he was appointed engraver-in-ordinary to George III and he was a member of the Incorporated Society of Artists, of which for several years he acted as secretary. Woollett's plates combined engraving, etching, and dry-point; and were considered highly esteemed examples of the English school of engraving.