WAY, Thomas (1837-1915) — London
Engraver, lithographer & printer. Lithographed French Hospital Estate, St. Luke’s 1889; St. Anne’s Soho 1889.
Born 1 May 1837 in Covent Garden at Carpenter’s Coffee House, where his father George Way (1794?-1856) was the licensee. His mother was Ann, née Clewett (1796-1868) — his parents had married at Wincanton, Somerset, in 1818. Baptised at St. Paul Covent Garden 24 May 1837. He was at school in Marlborough in 1851. Married Louisa Mary Chapman (1834-1911), daughter of an auctioneer, with whom he had at least seven children, 16 Jun 1859. Having commenced trading in Brydges Street about 1859, he then took over the Wellington Street premises of the recently deceased George Edward Madeley (see BME 2011). He specialised in lithographed plans and views for property auctioneers, but is chiefly remembered for his nurturing of the artist James McNeill Whistler (see American Map Engravers), whom he encouraged to take up lithography and many of whose lithographs he printed. His premises in Wellington Street were largely destroyed by fire 29 Jun 1865: a great deal of damage was done to his presses and materials, but the nearby book auctioneers ‘Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge’ suffered the more severe loss of a very valuable collection of books.
Way registered copyright in numerous drawings 1873-1894, principally fashion and costume studies. He was employing ten hands in 1881. His son Thomas Robert Way (1861-1913) assisted him in the business, but also developed his own greater reputation as an artist and illustrator, responsible for ‘Reliques of old London’ 1896, etc. After his son predeceased him and now a widower, Way sold the business. He died 6 Apr 1915 at his home in Haverstock Hill and was buried at Brompton Cemetery 9 Apr 1915. Probate was granted to three of his children 9 May 1915, his effects stated at £3,212,15s.10d. Much of his prime collection of Whistler material was sold to an American collector after 1902, although Way presented several fine proofs to the BM.
32 Brydges Street, Covent Garden — 1859-1860
3 Wellington Street, Strand — 1864
13 Wellington Street, Strand — 1865-1872
21 Wellington Street, Strand — 1872-1900
— 2 Pond Street, Hampstead (home) — 1881
— 17 Tavistock Street, St. Giles (home) — 1891
— 21 Brunswick Square (home) — 1901-1908
6/7 Gough Square — 1904-1914
— 14 Eton Villas, Haverstock Hill (home) — 1911-1915
BM. BNA. Census 1851, 1871-1911. Graves (1901). LMA. NA. ODNB. Wakeman & Bridson.