Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Mogford, Thomas
MOGFORD, THOMAS (1809–1868), painter, born at Exeter on 1 May 1809, was son of a veterinary surgeon at Northlew, Devonshire. He showed an early talent for drawing, as well as mechanics and chemistry, but eventually decided on painting in preference to engineering. He studied in Exeter under John Gendall [q. v.], and was articled for some years to him and to Mr. Cole. At the end of his appenticeship he married Cole's eldest daughter, and settled in Northernhay Place, Exeter. He sent three pictures to the Royal Academy in 1838, and three in 1839, including a full-length portrait of Sir Thomas Lethbridge, bart., with his horse and dog. About 1843 he removed to London, and subsequently exhibited at the Royal Academy portraits of E. H. Baily, R.A. (now in the possession of the Royal Academy), Samuel Cousins, the engraver, Professor J. O. Adams, the astronomer, for Cambridge University (engraved by S. Cousins), Colonel Napier, the historian, and others. He also painted and exhibited 'The Sacrifice of Noah' and 'The Loves of the Angels' (Royal Academy 1846), the latter a very original work. Subsequently he removed to Guernsey, and practised almost entirely as a landscape painter, occasionally revisiting England and Exeter to paint portraits. Though for some years crippled by palsy through the effects of lead poisoning, he continued to paint up to the day of his death, which took place at Guernsey in 1868. He founded a school of painting in Guernsey.
[Pycroft's Art in Devonshire; Redgrave's Dict. of Artists; Royal Acad. Catalogues.]