John Proctor

John Proctor (26 May 1836 – 10 August 1914) was a British artist, cartoonist and illustrator, well known in his day for political cartoons in magazines such as Judy and Moonshine, rivals to Punch. He also illustrated many books and was one of Lewis Carroll's choices to illustrate Alice Through the Looking-Glass instead of John Tenniel.

Personal life

John Proctor was born 26 May 1836 in St Cuthbert's, Edinburgh, he was the son of Adam Proctor (1797–1869) who was a plumber and his wife Eliza Proctor (1809–1897). He married Harriet Johanna McCallum (1836–1920) on 25 July 1861 in Town Yetholm, Roxburghshire, Scotland. In his words, he was “… equipped with a limited art education but a fair share of ambition in my head and a book of character sketches of Lammas Fair in my wallet. The reason for my invasion was to get into black and white business straightaway”. In the 1861 UK Census, he is listed as an 'artist on wood'. thumb The Royal Marriage at St Petersburg, the Greek Ceremony, in the Imperial Chapel of the Winter Palace, Illustrated London News 1874His career began as a graphic journalist for the Illustrated London News and was a special artist in St Petersburg, Russia in 1874 covering the royal wedding of Prince Alfred and Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna. He became the sole resident artist for Cassell, Petter and Galpin from 1861 to 1867 and contributed regularly to Cassell's Illustrated Family Paper and other magazines as well as illustrations for books such as Bright Thoughts for the Little Ones (1866).

With regular work assured at Cassell’s, Proctor was able to contribute to other publications such as George Stiff's, The London Journal and the Seven Days Journal (later The London Reader).

In the 1860s along with Charles Gibbon and a 'Mr Rankin' he purchased the weekly paper Empire but despite their enthusiasm it proved a failure.

From 1867 to 1868 Proctor drew the two-page centrefold cartoons in Judy; or, the London Serio-comic Journal. In 1868 he moved on to illustrate the centre pages of the weekly periodical Moonshine which he did until 1877. Some of Proctor's best work was done for James Henderson's periodicals such as Young Folks, Funny Folks which is considered to be one of the first British comics and Fun.

Proctor was in high demand during the late nineteenth century, illustrating many books and at one point producing two to three major cartoons a week for periodicals. However he did find time to enjoy himself and was an enthusiastic member of the Whitefriars Club and the Savage Club, mixing with some of the most prominent artists, actors and other eminent members of Victorian society.