William De Morgan
William Frend De Morgan was a notable figure in English literature and art, best known for publishing his first novel at the age of sixty-seven. Born into a family with a strong intellectual background—his father, Augustus De Morgan, was a prominent mathematician—William's education took place at University College, Oxford. He pursued art at the Royal Academy School, where he formed lasting friendships with influential artists, including Dante Gabriel Rossetti and William Morris.
De Morgan initially made his mark in the field of pottery and tile, where he focused on rediscovering ancient glazing techniques. He founded a successful company dedicated to the production of artistic ceramics, which became renowned for both its beauty and practicality. After marrying artist Evelyn Pickering in 1887, he eventually shifted his focus to writing fiction following his retirement from business. His debut novel, "Joseph Vance," mirrored the style of Charles Dickens and was well received, paving the way for further literary endeavors. Though subsequent works did not match the success of his first, De Morgan's contributions to literature reflect his late Victorian influences. He continued his scientific pursuits during World War I until his untimely death in 1917.
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William De Morgan
English artist and novelist
- Born: November 16, 1839
- Birthplace: London, England
- Died: January 15, 1917
- Place of death: London, England
Biography
William Frend De Morgan is an unusual figure in the history of English literature, for he wrote and published his first novel at the age of sixty-seven, following his retirement from a long career in art and industry. Son of Augustus De Morgan, the famous nineteenth century mathematician and logician, William was educated at University College, Oxford, where his father was a member of the faculty. In 1859, he entered the Royal Academy School to take a course in art; there, he became one of a student group that included Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Edward Burne-Jones, and William Morris, who became lifelong friends.
As an artist, De Morgan spent most of his early career working and experimenting in pottery and tile. Particularly interested in pottery glazes and techniques lost to contemporary workers, he rediscovered through research some of the original methods used to produce the brilliant blue and green glazes of ancient pottery. His first published writings were scientific papers in the field of ceramics. Later, he founded a company for the manufacture of artistic tile and pottery, even inventing some of the tools and machinery needed for his factory, and his products became famous for their artistic and utilitarian qualities. He married the artist Evelyn Pickering in 1887; they had no children. From 1890 on, they spent part of every year in Italy for the sake of De Morgan’s health.
After retiring from active business in 1905, De Morgan, at his wife’s suggestion, turned to fiction while convalescing from a serious illness. His first novel was Joseph Vance, a leisurely tale told in the form of an autobiography, somewhat in the manner of Charles Dickens’s David Copperfield (1849-1850). The book was well received, and its success encouraged De Morgan to continue writing. Six novels followed, though none were as successful as the first. Because his literary models were the novelists popular when he was young, notably Dickens, De Morgan has been called a late Victorian.
During World War I, he resumed his scientific studies. De Morgan was working on methods and devices for defense against submarines and aircraft when he contracted influenza and died in London on January 15, 1917.
Bibliography
Catleugh, Jon. William de Morgan Tiles. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1983. Includes essays by Elizabeth Aslin and Alan Caiger-Smith.
Cooper, Frederick Taber. Some English Story Tellers: A Book of the Younger Novelists. 1912. Reprint. Freeport, N.Y.: Books for Libraries Press, 1968. Contains a profile of De Morgan.
Gaunt, William, and M. D. E. Clayton-Stamm. William De Morgan: Pre-Raphaelite Ceramics. Greenwich, Conn.: New York GraphicSociety, 1971. An investigation of De Morgan’s achievement in the visual arts, which includes numerous illustrations and one chapter on his literary output.
Hamilton, Mark. Rare Spirit: A Life of William de Morgan, 1839-1917. London: Constable, 1997. A biography includes bibliographical references and an index.
Henderson, Philip. William Morris: His Life, Work, and Friends. 1967. Reprint. London: André Duetsch, 1986. Additional biographical information and evaluations of De Morgan’s work in ceramics can be found in this book about his contemporary.
Scott, William T. Chesterton, and Other Essays. New York: Eaton and Mains, 1912. Includes an essay about De Morgan.
Stirling, A. M. W. William De Morgan and His Wife. New York: Henry Holt, 1922. A thorough biography.