Thomas Henry (born Thomas Henry Fisher) (1879–1962) was an English illustrator, best remembered for his illustrations of Richmal Crompton's William books.
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Biography
Thomas Henry Fisher was born in 1879 at Eastwood, Nottinghamshire. The oldest of three brothers, he became an apprentice to T. Bailey Forman (Nottingham newspaper proprietors and printers) at the young age of fourteen. Numerous paintings and sketches he made outside contract were used by his employers for publishing merchandise like wall calendars. He concurrently attended the Nottingham School of Art.
His first published works were probably cartoons for the Nottingham Football Post, in September, 1904. He freelanced at the same time under the name of Thomas Henry. Pastel and watercolour were his chosen mediums at that time.
Thomas Henry was associated with the advertising division of Nottingham-based cigarette firm John Players and was reputed to have assisted in the updating of the famous sailor's head, found on the Navy Cut cigarette packet.
He married Gertrude Ellen Mensing from Cotgrave in 1906 and settled down in Plumtree, Nottinghamshire, a neighbouring village on the outskirts of Nottingham. Their daughter Marjorie was born in 1911.