William James Hinchey

William James Hinchey (December 5, 1829 – September 9, 1893) was an Irish-American painter, Civil War correspondent, and diarist. His work serves as a visual record of the Santa Fe Trail, the Civil War, and life in 19th century Missouri. Additionally, his journals and business records provide insight into life as a working artist on the American Frontier. While primarily a portraitist, his most famous painting today is the Dedication of Eads Bridge.

Early life

William James Hinchey was born December 5, 1829, in Dublin, Ireland to Paul Chilrose Hinchey and his wife, Mary Ann Doyle Hinchey. Paul was a devout Protestant and son of a minister and Mary was a devout Catholic, which resulted in all eight of their children being double-baptized into both churches and Mary secretly taking the children to hear Catholic mass.