William Williams (artist)
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William Lewellin Williams (1727 - 1791) was an American painter. He was born in Caerphilly, Wales. He began residing in Philadelphia around 1747 and afterwards in New York City before returning to England about 1780, where he died in Bristol in the Merchants' and Sailors' Almshouse.
Williams is believed to have been a seafarer during the early part of his life. He wrote The Journal of Llewellin Penrose, believed to be partly autobiographical, about a sailor who is cast away in the New World.
He was also a teacher for artist Benjamin West. West credited Williams as giving him an interest in painting.
William Williams was the father of William Joseph Williams (1759 - 1823), another American painter.
Williams left his personal property to Thomas Eagles, a gentleman who helped him gain admission to the almshouse, where he lived until his death. The bequest included many books, a portrait and the manuscript of "Penrose". The Revd John Eagles, son of Thomas, prepared an edited copy of this for publication, including 37 watercolours mainly by Nicholas Pocock, intended for engraving. This Eagles version appeared in 1815, but without the illustrations, and in 2006 its manuscript was acquired by the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, UK. Williams' original manuscript, bequeathed to Eagles senior, is in Indiana University, USA, and was only transcribed and published in 1969.
