Background
Francis William Edmonds was born in Hudson, Columbia County, New York, son of Samuel and Lydia (Worth) Edmonds, and brother of John Worth Edmonds Francis.
Francis William Edmonds was born in Hudson, Columbia County, New York, son of Samuel and Lydia (Worth) Edmonds, and brother of John Worth Edmonds Francis.
The youngest of a numerous family, he could not enjoy the educational opportunities afforded his elder brother.
When he was sixteen he was offered a position in the Tradesmens Bank in New York by his uncle, Gorham A. Worth, then its president, and he remained there until 1830 when he returned to Hudson to become cashier of the Hudson River Bank in his native town. He was later cashier in New York City, first in the Leather Manufacturers’ Bank, 1832, and later in the Mechanics’ Bank, 1839.
He assisted in establishing the New York Clearing House in 1853 and the same year helped to organize the Bank Note Engraving Company, later called the American Bank Note Company.
He was at one time city chamberlain of New York, and was closely identified with the New York Gallery of Fine Arts, the Sketch Club, Century Association, New York Society Library, and New York Historical Society.
In 1855 he retired from business and settled in a country home, “Crow’s Nest” on the Bronx River.
Soon after 1826 he became a student at the National Academy of Design, was made an associate in 1837, and National Academician in 1840.
He was recording secretary of the institution for a while and became one of its trustees.
He first exhibited at the Academy in 1836, under the assumed name F. Williams, the painting Sammy the Tailor. ” He gained much through a visit to Europe in 1840, and his study of the art of the Old World, especially in Italy. In the early fifties he made several drawings for notes produced by the American Bank Note Company, among them being “Sewing-Girl, ” “Grinding the Scythe, ” “Barn-yard, ” and “Mechanic. ”
closely identified with the New York Gallery of Fine Arts, the Sketch Club, Century Association, New York Society Library, and New York Historical Society
National Academy of Design
Although he lacked conventional art education, throughout his business career he pursued his art in his leisure time with perseverance and devotion to his ideals.
Edmonds was twice married: first, while he was cashier of the bank at Hudson, to Martha Norman; and second, on Nov. 4, 1841, to Dorothea Lord.
