(b Leigh, Lancashire [now in Greater Manchester], 21 Nov. 1747; d Didsbury, Lancashire [now in Greater Manchester], 30 Dec. 1821). English landscape painter and topographical draughtsman, best known today for his copious diary (1793–1821), a major source of information about the London art world of the time. The original manuscript is in the Royal Library at Windsor Castle. The full text appeared in sixteen volumes in 1978–84 (an index volume was added in 1998); previous editions had been heavily abridged.
Text source: The Oxford Dictionary of Art and Artists (Oxford University Press)
