Person    | Male  Born 28/11/1757  Died 12/8/1827

William Blake

Categories: Art, Poetry, Seriously Famous

Poet and artist. Except for 3 years spent on the coast near Bognor, Blake lived his whole life in London, making his living as an engraver. Born at 28 Broad Street, now Broadwick Street (the memorial being in Marshall Street). 1782 married Catherine.

Wrote Jerusalem in his rooms in South Molton Street, the only one of his London homes to survive, other homes being: 28 Broad Street W1; Green Street, near Leicester Square (briefly, no plaque); 28 Poland Street (no plaque);  Hercules Road SE1; 3 Fountain Court at the Strand where he lived his last 7 years and died a poor man. See Tate's William Blake's London for more details.

His friend George Richmond closed Blake's eyes "to keep the vision in". Buried in Bunhill Fields Dissenters' Burial Ground. This was damaged during WW2 and restored in 1960 by which time the precise location of Blake's remains had been forgotten, or at least lost in the archives.

In 2007 there is a campaign to re-mark the grave and to build a monument to this truly great Londoner. And 2018: iNews reports that a new gravestone, in the correct location, will be unveiled in August.

The Blake Archive web site, given as the Picture Source is a magnificent site.

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
William Blake

Commemorated ati

Bunhill burial ground - 2

In this ground are the vaults of {see the Subjects commemorated for the list ...

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Linnell & Blake

Greater London Council John Linnell, 1792 - 1882, painter lived here. Wil...

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Spirit of Soho Mural

Interesting that Coca Cola are specifically mentioned on the panel but not as...

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William Blake - SE1

The shield with the red crosses is from the Coat of arms of the City of Londo...

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William Blake - SE1 - lost plaque

This plaque, shown in both this drawing (by Adcock from Culture 24) and the p...

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Show all 7

This section lists the memorials created by the subject on this page:
William Blake

Creations i

British Library - Newton

Bronze, 12 foot high (and he's sitting down).  Via Facebook Henri Hudson has ...

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Iolo Morganwg

The plaque of Anglesey Stone designed and carved by Morris was unveiled at mi...

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Start of the third Millennium in Belgrave Square

The poetry is from "Auguries of Innocence" by William Blake.For other armill...

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Other Subjects

Southbank Mosaics / London School of Mosaic

Southbank Mosaics / London School of Mosaic

Southbank Mosaics actively promotes equal opportunities and cross-cultural, inter-generational mosaic art work. The studio aims to draw on the historic roots of local neighbourhoods traversed by Sh...

Group, Art, Community / Clubs, Craft / Design

26 memorials
G. F. Watts

G. F. Watts

Born in London. His piano-making father named him after Handel. Married briefly to Ellen Terry, many years his junior. 1886 married Mary Tytler. The statue 'Physical Energy' in Hyde Park is his. Le...

Person, Art, Sculpture

17 memorials
George Cruikshank

George Cruikshank

Engraver, caricaturist and illustrator, best known for his political caricatures and for his illustrations for Charles Dickens novels. His father, Isaac, and brother, Robert, were also illustrators...

Person, Art

3 memorials
Anthony Green

Anthony Green

Born Luton. The picture shows a typical self-portrait.

Person, Art

1 memorial
Richard Ansdell

Richard Ansdell

Painter specialising in animals and genre scenes. Born Liverpool. c.1846 moved with his wife and family to Kensington, initially into 39 Victoria Road. 1850 he also took on the house next door, num...

Person, Art

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Uriah Wilkinson

Uriah Wilkinson

Possibly a Freeman of the City of London, born in Manchester. Father of John Wilkinson?  See the memorial page for our researches.

Person, Friend / family

1 memorial
Mrs Catherine Smithies

Mrs Catherine Smithies

Born as Catherine Bywater. Founded the Band of Mercy movement in Britain. She also campaigned against slavery but we can find no details. Her home, Earlham Grove House, built c.1865, has also been...

Person, Animals, Philanthropy, Race Issues, Social Welfare

1 memorial
E. H. Baily

E. H. Baily

From Bristol. Born Edward Hodges Baily. Other work in London: the Pallas Athenae at the entrance to the Athenaeum in Waterloo Place.

Person, Sculpture

4 memorials
William Bethell

William Bethell

Worked for the Royal Arsenal Co-operative Society. Was Assistant Manager of the Abbey Wood branch in June 1912. Probably a cousin of the RACS architect Frank Bethell.

Person, Commerce, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Rose Sansom

Rose Sansom

Probably Louise Rose Sansom, mother of footballer Kenny Sansom.

Person, Friend / family

1 memorial