John William Hill (1812-1879) was born in London , January 13, 18 12 . He arrived in America settling with his father in Philadelphia in 1819. Apprenticed to his father, his talent was more of a painter than an engraver. He produced a remarkable body of work for Smith Brothers, a publisher of large scale lithographic town views. His urban views are remarkable for their detail and unusual perspectives. Traveling around the country he produced views of Charleston, Savannah, New Orleans, Boston, New York, Portland to name a few. His views were used to illustrate books, and many were issues as individual prints. He moved to Rockland County with his father in 1836, however it became his base of operation because his most productive period would be the 1840's and 1850's.
