Born in Oxfordshire, Charles Turner(1773-1857) moved to London in around 1789 where he spent seven years apprenticed to the engraver John Jones and studying at the Royal Academy schools. He was employed by the engraver and publisher Boydell, working in stipple and aquatint as well as mezzotint. Turner became the most important mezzotint engraver of his day and in 1812 was appointed engraver-in-ordinary to the king. He was a close friend of J.M.W. Turner, and engraved many of the artists' paintings. He produced more than six hundred plates, of which about two-thirds were portraits. He was elected associate engraver at the Royal Academy in 1828, and exhibited there until the year he died. - NPG