James Heath

James Heath was a British engraver who began his career in 1771 as an apprentice to Joseph Collyer the Younger.

In 1791 Heath was elected to the Royal Academy (one of only six posts reserved for engravers) and in 1794, he was appointed Historical Engraver to George III, a position he would hold under successive monarchs until his own death.

During his career Heath was highly both commercially successful and highly regarded, producing numerous works of exceptional quality. In addition to publishing for established houses, Heath also self-published a number of volumes of works including

Shakespeare (1802) George Shaw's General Zoology (1800-26) and Hogarth’s works, published in 1822, the year of his retirement.

His most popular work was a portrait of George Washington after the artist Gilbert Stuart.

James Heath died in 1834 and his business was taken over by his son, Charles, himself a gifted engraver.