William Simpson

William Simpson, born on 28 October 1823 in Glasgow, Scotland, was a British draughtsman, lithographer, watercolourist, journalist, and antiquarian. He is best known for his war sketches for the Illustrated London News. Despite his early struggles, having been born into poverty, Simpson’s fortunes changed when he was sent to live with his grandmother in Perth, Australia, in 1834, where he received formal schooling. Upon returning to Scotland, he apprenticed at the Glasgow lithographic firm of Macfarlane and took evening classes at Andersonian University and the Mechanics Institute, an experience he later referred to as the “turning point” of his life.

Simpson began his career as a journalist by covering the Crimean War (1853-56) and later joined the Illustrated London News, for which he reported on various global conflicts including the Abyssinian campaign (1868), Franco-Prussian War (1870-71), Modoc War (1873), and the Second Afghan War (1878). His first visit to India came in 1859 when he was commissioned by publisher William Day to illustrate post-Mutiny India. Although this project was cut short due to the publisher’s bankruptcy, Simpson returned to India in 1875-76, accompanying the Prince of Wales on a royal tour, which resulted in numerous sketches and his major work, 'An Album of Sketches of India, Rajpootana, Himalayas and Tibet'.

Simpson's watercolours, created during his travels, are housed in London's British Museum, alongside a collection of archaeological and ethnographic items he gathered. He passed away on 17 August 1899 in London.