London family history records online

By Tim Lambert. William Blake was a famous poet, painter, and engraver of the late 18th century and early 19th century. Blake was a radical, anti-authority figure. His father James Blake was a hosier. He and his wife Catherine had 6 children. Apart from William, they had 4 boys and 1 girl. From an early age, William Blake was artistic.

When he was 14 William was made apprentice to an engraver called James Basire.

National archives uk

William served 7 years and became an engraver himself in Blake also wanted to paint and the same year he became a student at the Royal Academy of Arts. Blake also wrote poems. A book of poems called Poetical Sketches was published in In he published a book of poems called The Song of Innocence. In Blake published Visions of the Daughters of Albion.

Also in , Blake published America, a Prophecy. In Blake published a book of poems called Songs of Experience.