Edward Williams Clay (April 17, 1799 – December 31, 1857) was an American artist, illustrator and political cartoonist. He created the notoriously

racist Racism is the belief that groups of humans possess different behavioral traits corresponding to inherited attributes and can be divided based on the superiority of one Race (human categorization), race or ethnicity over another. It may also me ...

collection of lithographs titled '' Life in Philadelphia''. He was also a notable

comic strip A comic strip is a Comics, sequence of cartoons, arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often Serial (literature), serialized, with text in Speech balloon, balloons and Glossary of comics terminology#Captio ...

pioneer.

Early life

In 1799, Edward Williams Clay was born in

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

. His parents were Robert Clay and Eliza Williams. Robert Clay was a

sea captain A sea captain, ship's captain, captain, master, or shipmaster, is a high-grade licensed mariner who holds ultimate command and responsibility of a merchant vessel. The captain is responsible for the safe and efficient operation of the ship, inc ...

. He attended

law school A law school (also known as a law centre/center, college of law, or faculty of law) is an institution, professional school, or department of a college or university specializing in legal education, usually involved as part of a process for b ...

and as of 1825 was a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association. He started working as an engraver while in law school. He quit his work in law and became a full-time artist.

Career

From around 1825 until 1828 he studied art in Europe. Starting in 1828 until circa 1830 he drew and published '' Life in Philadelphia'', which today, is seen as a "pointedly

" depiction of early

African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...

life in Philadelphia. Starting in 1831, he focused on

political cartoon A political cartoon, also known as an editorial cartoon, is a cartoon graphic with caricatures of public figures, expressing the artist's opinion. An artist who writes and draws such images is known as an editorial cartoonist. They typically co ...

s. That year, he created the work "The Rats Leaving a Falling House," about

Andrew Jackson Andrew Jackson (March 15, 1767 – June 8, 1845) was the seventh president of the United States from 1829 to 1837. Before Presidency of Andrew Jackson, his presidency, he rose to fame as a general in the U.S. Army and served in both houses ...

. In 1837, Clay relocated to

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

. He created illustrations and art for books, magazines, and

sheet music Sheet music is a handwritten or printed form of musical notation that uses musical symbols to indicate the pitches, rhythms, or chords of a song or instrumental musical piece. Like its analogs – printed Book, books or Pamphlet, pamphlets ...

Death and legacy

While still living in New York, his eyesight started to deteriorate, and he stopping working as an artist. He moved to Delaware and served as Clerk of the Court of Chancery. He also worked as Clerk of the Orphan's Court until 1856. He died in New York City in 1857 of

tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB), also known colloquially as the "white death", or historically as consumption, is a contagious disease usually caused by ''Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can al ...

. He is buried in Philadelphia at Christ Church Burial Ground.

Racial cartoons

* '' Life in Philadelphia'' (1828-1830) *"Road to Philadelphy," (ca. 1830-31),

The Library Company of Philadelphia The Library Company of Philadelphia (LCP) is a non-profit organization based on Locust Street in Center City Philadelphia. Founded as a library in 1731 by Benjamin Franklin, the Library Company of Philadelphia has accumulated one of the most ...

, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania File:Life in Philadelphia. How you like de new fashiom shirt, Miss Florinda - lith. of Imbert. LCCN2014649026 cropped.jpg, ''Life in Philadelphia'' (1829), plate 9 File:Clay Life in Phila Plate12.jpg, ''Life in Philadelphia'' (1829), plate 12 File:Jimcrow.jpg, "Mr. T. Rice as the Original Jim Crow" (1832)

Political cartoons

File:The rats leaving a falling house LCCN2008661748.jpg, "The Rats Leaving a Falling House" (1831) File:1832bank1.jpg, "President Jackson Destroying the Second Bank of the United States" (1833) File:Edward Williams Clay, The Times (2920683888).jpg, "The Times" (1837) File:America - E.W.C. LCCN2003690759.jpg, "America" (1841) File:The disappointed abolitionists LCCN2008661783.jpg,

References

External links

Lambiek Comiclopedia article.

Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum Art Database
{{DEFAULTSORT:Clay, Edward Williams 1799 births 1857 deaths American printmakers American editorial cartoonists American comics artists American comic strip cartoonists Painters from Philadelphia Lawyers from Philadelphia 19th-century deaths from tuberculosis Painters from New York City Tuberculosis deaths in New York (state) 19th-century American lawyers