Bernhard Gillam (April 28, 1856 – January 19, 1896) was an English-born American political cartoonist. Gillam was born in

Banbury Banbury is a historic market town on the River Cherwell in Oxfordshire, South East England. It had a population of 54,335 at the 2021 Census. Banbury is a significant commercial and retail centre for the surrounding area of north Oxfordshir ...

, Oxfordshire. He arrived in New York with his parents in 1866. He worked as a copyist in a lawyer's office, but switched to the study of engraving, and later, after some of his cartoons had appeared in the '' New York Graphic'', turned to cartooning. His work appeared in ''

Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper ''Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper'', later renamed ''Leslie's Weekly'', was an American illustrated literary and news magazine founded in 1855 and published until 1922. It was one of several magazines started by publisher and illustrator Frank ...

'', ''

Harper's Weekly ''Harper's Weekly, A Journal of Civilization'' was an American political magazine based in New York City. Published by Harper & Brothers from 1857 until 1916, it featured foreign and domestic news, fiction, essays on many subjects, and humor, ...

'', where he worked with

Thomas Nast Thomas Nast (; ; September 26, 1840December 7, 1902) was a German-born American caricaturist and editorial cartoonist often considered to be the "Father of the American Cartoon". He was a critic of Democratic Representative "Boss" Tweed and ...

during

James A. Garfield James Abram Garfield (November 19, 1831 – September 19, 1881) was the 20th president of the United States, serving from March 4, 1881 until his death six months latertwo months after he was shot by an assassin. A lawyer and Civil War gene ...

's campaign of 1880, and ''Puck'' magazine where he came under the influence of

Joseph Keppler Joseph Ferdinand Keppler (February 1, 1838 – February 19, 1894) was an Austrian-born American cartoonist and caricaturist who greatly influenced the growth of satirical cartooning in the United States. Early life He was born in Vienna. His p ...

. Gillam also produced work for ''Judge'', a magazine of which he became director-in-chief in 1886. Gillam's cartoons on James G. Blaine during the 1884 US presidential campaign played a large part in

Grover Cleveland Stephen Grover Cleveland (March 18, 1837June 24, 1908) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 22nd and 24th president of the United States from 1885 to 1889 and from 1893 to 1897. Cleveland is the only president in American ...

's election to office. "''Phryne before the Chicago Tribunal''", which appeared in the ''Puck'' issue of June 4, 1884, showed Blaine's body covered in tattoos detailing corruption charges from his political past. Blaine threatened legal action, but backed down on the advice of his political friends. Oddly, Gillam was a Republican who voted for Blaine in 1884. During the presidential campaigns of 1888 and 1892, Gillam's cartoons depicted the dangers of the free-trade policy of the Democrats and the benefits of Republican protectionism. Bernhard Gillam died in Canajoharie, New York, of

typhoid fever Typhoid fever, also known as typhoid, is a disease caused by '' Salmonella'' serotype Typhi bacteria. Symptoms vary from mild to severe, and usually begin six to 30 days after exposure. Often there is a gradual onset of a high fever over several ...

in 1896.Spartacus
File:Will he cast his sword into the balance.jpg, "Will he cast his sword into the balance?" (1882) File:Bernard Gilliam - Phryne before the Chicago Tribunal.jpg, "Phryne before the Chicago Tribunal" (1884) FIle:Gulliver und die Partei-Liliputaner 1885 (Henry Ward Beecher).jpg, "Gulliver and the party Liliputians" (1885), portraying

Henry Ward Beecher Henry Ward Beecher (June 24, 1813 – March 8, 1887) was an American Congregationalist clergyman, social reformer, and speaker, known for his support of the abolition of slavery, his emphasis on God's love, and his 1875 adultery trial. His r ...

as Gulliver

References

External links

Harper's Weekly
1856 births 1896 deaths Deaths from typhoid fever American caricaturists American editorial cartoonists People from Banbury Artists from New York (state) {{US-cartoonist-stub