A Striking View of Richmond

Bill Richmond (1763-1829) born of slave parents at Richmond on Staten Island, was adopted during the US War of Independence by General Earl Percy who took him back to England. He paid for Richmond’s education and apprenticed him to a cabinet maker. Lord Camelford arranged his first fight against the experienced George Maddox. Richmond retired after three rounds. At 5’9” and under 11 stone he was no match for the strongest fighters but won a number of fights including one against the ageing Jack Holmes. Acknowledged as the first American and black boxer, he retired to become a publican and also ran a boxing school.

The son of a London tradesman, Dighton exhibited small portrait drawings at the Society of Artists between 1769 and 1774, entering the Royal Academy Schools in 1770. As well as providing the print publisher Carrington Bowles with caricatures and humorous subjects he was, at times, actor, dramatic writer and singer. Perhaps known most as a caricaturist, his invective was far milder that that of his predecessor, James Gillray (q.v.), in whose footsteps it is often said he followed. Dighton also learnt etching, producing a series of small portraits without malice or much caricature of the influential people of his day. Unfortunately his talents included those of a thief since between 1795 and 1806 he regularly substituted some of his own work for that of better artists represented in the Print Room of the British Museum. Despite being apprehended, he continued drawing his delightful figurative scenes and caricatures until his death at Spring Gardens, London in 1814, aged sixty-two.