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Alexander Anderson - Grappling Hooks
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Alexander Anderson

Dr Alexander Anderson was an American physician and illustrator.

Anderson was born in New York City to Scottish parents. "At the age of twelve years he made his first attempts at engraving on copper, frequently using pennies rolled out, and on type-metal plates. He received no instruction, and his knowledge was acquired by watching jewelers and other workmen." Anderson was a contemporary of Thomas Bewick, and published his first work in Arnaud Bernaud's "The Looking Glass of the Mind" in 1794. However, he was urged by his parents to pursue a career in medicine.

He apprenticed with Dr. William Smith at fourteen and received his license at twenty. He became the first doctor at what would become Bellevue Hospital, established to deal with an outbreak of yellow fever in New York City in 1795. When the epidemic ended, he sought an academic degree in medicine, "married, became a father, and opened a medical office"; however, he soon abandoned this office in favour of a shop "that sold children's books he personally engraved". He graduated from Columbia College in 1796 with an M.D.

Another outbreak of yellow fever began in 1798, and Anderson returned to Bellevue as the resident physician. He resigned a few weeks later after his three-month-old son, brother, and father all died in the epidemic. His wife and mother died soon afterwards. Anderson then became an engraver and was termed "America's First Illustrator".

He is one of the earliest American wood-engravers. He produced works for books, periodicals, and newspapers. Anderson is the author of the cartoon Ograbme, a spoof on the Embargo Act of 1807. He confined himself to wood engraving from 1820, and was engraver for the American Tract society for several years. His work includes illustrations for Bewick's "Birds"; illustration for Webster's Speller, and forty engravings for an edition of Shakespeare.

Anderson died in New York City on January 17, 1870, at the age of 94.

In Collection: Index of American Design (View all 18027)

Quaker Baby Shirt

Quaker Baby Shirt (c. 1937)

Lillian Causey (American, 20th Century)
Weather Vane

Weather Vane (c. 1937)

Salvatore Borrazzo
Station of the Cross No. 9 – Jesus Falls the Third Time

Station of the Cross No. 9 – Jesus Falls the Third Time (c. 1936)

Beulah Bradleigh
Barber Pole

Barber Pole (c. 1939)

Emile Cero
Stone Jug

Stone Jug (c. 1939)

Carl Buergerniss (American, 20th Century)
Figurehead

Figurehead (1935-1942)

Rosamond P. Gray
Panel from Hall Lantern

Panel from Hall Lantern (c. 1936)

Blanche Waterbury
Wrought Iron Fence

Wrought Iron Fence (c. 1936)

Francis Law Durand (American, active c. 1935)
Pa. German Prince Charles Spaniel

Pa. German Prince Charles Spaniel (1940)

Mina Lowry (American, 1894 - 1942)
Six Bladed Food Chopper

Six Bladed Food Chopper (1939)

Thomas Dooley
Wash Stand

Wash Stand (c. 1940)

Joe Brennan
Sampler

Sampler (1935-1942)

Elizabeth Valentine
Hat

Hat (1935-1942)

American 20th Century
Baptismal Font and Stand

Baptismal Font and Stand (c. 1939)

William Kieckhofel (American, 20th Century)
Wall Paper

Wall Paper (c. 1937)

Vincent Burzy
View all 18027 Artworks

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