Career
He began work in the Etruria factory as an "ingenious boy", in Wedgwood"s phrase, where he was ".. of the greatest value and consequence in finishing fine small work." In time, he became head of ornamental art for the firm. He modelled many of Wedgwood"s l8th-century portrait medallions, including those of Wedgwood himself, George III, and Queen Charlotte. His portraits of David Garrick and Shakespeare were signed but most were not.
A surviving contract between Josiah Wedgwood and William Hackwood, dated November 1777, specifies that Hackwood"s basic wage was to be £1 11s 6d. per week and that his house was to be rent-free.
Additional payments were made on a per-piece basis.
