Biography for William Morris

Also known as:	Topsy
Nationality:	British
Born:	1834 - Walthamstow, London, England
Died:	1896

Education

Boarder at Marlborough College 1848-1851. Tutored privately. Went to Oxford University 1853 to study for the Church. 1856, became an article pupil in the office of architect George Edmund Street, stayed only eight months.

Member

1883, joined the Democratic Federation. Became Social Democratic Federation. Socialist League. Hammersmith Socialist Society 1890. Kyrle Society.

Employment

April 1861 firm of Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co. formed, set up studios and a shop at 8 Red Lion Square, London. Partners were Morris, Burne-Jones, Webb, Rossetti, Ford Madox Brown, Faulkner and Peter Paul Marshall. Re-organised 1875 under Morris's sole direction and re-named Morris & Company. Shop opened in Oxford St 1877. Commissions to decorate private homes. Unofficial adviser to South Kensington Museums. June 1881 moved production of the firm to Merton Abbey, near Wimbledon. 1891 the Kelmscott Press set up at 16 Upper Mall, London.