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William Blake (1757 - 1827) was a native londoner, born to hosier James Blake and one of 7 children. Blake was educated at Henry Pars’s Drawing School in the Strand with the aim to become a draughtsman. After four years he was apprenticed to the engraver James Basire. It was during this time that he became interested in the English Gothic tradition, partly by drawing the monuments in Westminister abbey
In 1782 he married Catherine Boucher and set himself up as an engraver. His engravings subsequently became a very important part of his poetry, often having as much subtle meaning as the words themselves. It is said without the engravings, you only get half of a Blake poem.
He is considered one of the ‘6′ main Romantic poets.