PROUD, William (fl.1752-1777) — London
Engraver. Engraved plans and other plates for Isaac Ware, ‘A complete body of architecture : adorned with plans and elevations’ 1756; A north view of Fort Frederic or Crown Point 1760, a perspective plan, for the Royal Magazine. Also known for satires, architectural plates, portraits, etc. “An artist of no note, who resided in England, and engraved title pages, with other book plates, also some few portraits” (Strutt).
Possibly the William Proud baptised 4 Oct 1730 at St. George Hanover Square, the son of William Proud and his wife Margaretta. Probably the William Proud who married Elizabeth Mickleburgh of St. George Hanover Square at Grosvenor Chapel, Mayfair, 21 Apr 1752, or perhaps the William Proud who married Ann Sharpley at Paddington 8 Nov 1760. Possibly the William Proud who appeared in rates records at Mays Buildings, St. Martin in the Fields, 1756-1762. In a publicity gimmick widely publicised in the press, Proud swore a formal oath at the Guildhall before the Lord Mayor on 17 Feb 1777 that an engraving of a waistcoat pattern to be given away with the next issue of the Magazine à-la-Mode (price 6d) was “greatly superior” to one which he had purchased in Pall Mall from an embroidery warehouse for 5s.6d (Ipswich Journal, 22 Feb 1777, and elsewhere). He is tentatively identified with the William Proud buried from the workhouse aged sixty at St. Martin the Fields 30 Jan 1790.
Fleet Street — 1777
Alexander. BM. BNA. Bryan. Hake. Harris. Jolly. Strutt.