Brockedon, William

1787

1854

Brockedon was born at Totnes, in Devon, and grew up to be something of a polymath. His interest in painting was matched by his travel writings and his inventions. After his father’s death in 1802, he spent six months in London, at the age of fifteen, at the home of a watchmaker, learning the trade his father had practiced. By 1809, however, he changed tack and spent six years studying to be a painter and, from 1812 until 1841, he exhibited fairly regularly at the Royal Academy. He also wrote a number of travel books.