Davidson, Thomas

Born in London to Scottish parents and deafened at 4 from an illness. Educated at the Bermondsey Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb, then at a hearing school in Clapham, finishing at the Marlborough School of Art and Design in 1861. Exhibited more than 20 times at the Royal Academy; produced 450 paintings and sketches between 1863 and 1897; a specialty of his was paintings of incidents associated with British hero Horatio Nelson, on whom Davidson was an acknowledged historical authority. He also painted religious and Roman events. Active in British deaf organizations. Married a hearing woman; died at Walberswick, Suffolk.