Joseph Shepherd Wyon (28 July 1836 – 12 August 1873) was a British medallist and seal-engraver.

Life

Born in London on 28 July 1836, he was the eldest son of Benjamin Wyon. He was educated by his father, and studied in the

Royal Academy Schools The Royal Academy of Arts (RA) is an art institution based in Burlington House in Piccadilly London, England. Founded in 1768, it has a unique position as an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects. Its ...

, where he gained two silver medals. On 2 December 1858 Wyon was appointed Chief Engraver of the Seals, a post previously held by his father, Benjamin Wyon, and grandfather, Thomas Wyon the elder. He died at

Winchester Winchester (, ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city in Hampshire, England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government Districts of England, district, at the western end of the South Downs N ...

on 12 August 1873.

Works

Wyon's first important work was a medal of

James Watt James Watt (; 30 January 1736 (19 January 1736 OS) – 25 August 1819) was a Scottish inventor, mechanical engineer, and chemist who improved on Thomas Newcomen's 1712 Newcomen steam engine with his Watt steam engine in 1776, which was f ...

. On

Robert Stephenson Robert Stephenson , (honoris causa, Hon. causa) (16 October 1803 – 12 October 1859) was an English civil engineer and designer of locomotives. The only son of George Stephenson, the "Father of Railways", he built on the achievements of hi ...

's recommendation, it was adopted as the prize medal of the

Institution of Civil Engineers The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) is an independent professional association for civil engineers and a Charitable organization, charitable body in the United Kingdom. Based in London, ICE has over 92,000 members, of whom three-quarters ar ...

. In his work as a medallist, Wyon was aided by his brothers Alfred Benjamin Wyon and Allan Wyon. The medals are often signed "J. S. and A. B. Wyon". They included: * 1861, Steevens's Hospital medals, Dublin (Cusack prize); * 1863,

Seal of the Confederate States The Seal of the Confederate States was used to authenticate certain documents issued by the federal government of the Confederate States of America. The phrase is used both for the physical Seal (emblem), seal itself (which was kept by the Conf ...

. * 1863, entry of Princess Alexandra into London; * 1846–65, New Zealand war medal; * 1867, confederation of provinces of Canada; * the great seal of the dominion of Canada; * reception of the sultan of Turkey in London; * 1867–8, Abyssinian war medal; and * 1872, Prince of Wales's recovery.

Notes

;Attribution {{DEFAULTSORT:Wyon, Joseph Shepherd 1836 births 1873 deaths English medallists 19th-century English engravers 19th-century English sculptors Engravers from London