Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Wilson, Anthony
WILSON, ANTHONY (fl. 1793), better known by his pseudonym ‘Henry Bromley,’ author of the ‘Catalogue of Engraved Portraits,’ was born at Wigan in 1750. He was perhaps connected with the Wilson family of Kendal, which intermarried with that of Bromley. Wilson belonged to a mercantile firm in the city of London, and was a regular attendant at Hutchins's auction-rooms, where he was detected on one occasion abstracting prints. He also frequented the sale-room of Nathaniel Smith, father of the antiquary, John Thomas Smith (1766–1833) [q. v.]
In 1793, stimulated by the increased demand for prints consequent on the publication of James Granger's ‘Biographical History of England’ (1769), Wilson, under the name of Henry Bromley, published ‘A Catalogue of Engraved British Portraits’ (London, 4to). He received assistance in the compilation from many leading antiquaries and virtuosi, including Sir William Musgrave, James Bindley [q. v.], and Anthony Morris Storer [q. v.] In the ‘Catalogue’ Wilson aimed at furnishing a complete list of engraved British portraits, neglecting only those which could not be identified with their originals. He divided his list into historic periods, and subdivided it into groups according to the rank or calling of the persons portrayed. The date of Wilson's death is unknown. His portrait was engraved by Barrett. There is a copy in the British Museum. Edward Evans (1789–1835) [q. v.], the printseller, states that he was a contributor to the ‘Gentleman's Magazine’ (cf. a letter signed ‘A Gothamite,’ in July 1814).
[Manuscript note by Evans, the printseller, in his copy of Bromley's Catalogue, afterwards in the possession of Sir George Scharf [q. v.]; preface to Bromley's Catalogue; Evans's Catalogue of Engraved Portraits, vol. i. Nos. 1352, 11360; Redgrave's Dict. of Artists, s.v. ‘Bromley.’]