John Edwin Usher
Person TypeIndividual
BiographyJohn Edwin Usher (July 9th, 1847 - October 29th, 1896) was born in Chatham, England. Showing early signs of artistic talent as a young child, and was encouraged in it, Mr. Usher produced his first oil painting at the age of eleven. In 1865, he left England for the United Sates, and spent seven years in Ohio, then from there came to Toronto in 1872. Making Toronto his permanent home, where he was employed as a foreman in the shops of Grand Trunk Railway Company. The last years of his life were given up wholly to his painting. As an artist Mr. Usher will long be held in honor in Toronto, it was in that line that he was especially proficient and did vital, individual work. One of his most successful pictures was a portrait in oil of John Brighton, M.P. Mr. Usher’s work was mostly themed around Biblical subjects, where his religious nature was beautifully communicated in pictures, expressed and inspired from his character.
