John Singleton Copley

John Singleton Copley (1738 – September 9, 1815) was an Anglo-American painter, active in both colonial America and England. He was probably born in Boston, Massachusetts, to Richard and Mary Singleton Copley, both Anglo-Irish. After becoming well-established as a portrait painter of the wealthy in colonial New England, he moved to London in 1774, never returning to America. In London, he met considerable success as a portraitist for the next two decades, and also painted a number of large history paintings, which were innovative in their readiness to depict modern subjects and modern dress. His later years were less successful, and he died heavily in debt.

• Born: July 3, 1738; Boston, United States  Places are defined in terms of modern geography.
  
• Died: September 9, 1815; London, United Kingdom  Places are defined in terms of modern geography.
  
• Active Years: 1752 - 1815
• Nationality: American
• Art Movement: Neoclassicism, Romanticism
• Genre: portrait
• Field: painting
• Influenced on: Théodore Géricault
• Art institution: Royal Academy of Arts (RA), London, UK