Sir John Tenniel

Happy Birthday Sir John Tenniel!! Born in England, Tenniel studied for a time at the Royal Academy, but left dissatisfied with the teaching. He worked in painting, then turned to book illustration. Tenniel submitted cartoons to Punch Magazine, gradually became the political cartoonist for the publication. But the crowning achievement of Tenniel was to be the illustrator of Alice in Wonderland, originally to be illustrated by Charles Dodgson (aka Lewis Carroll). Dodgson eventually sought out Tenniel for the task, after rejection by the publisher for his own attempts. I have included the famed Cheshire Cat below. I just love the grin!


Punch Magazine-published in England, beginning in 1841, presented articles and cartoons in support of the downtrodden. The cause of supporting the oppressed gradually shifted to a more conservative view in the 1850s with some key changes in leadership. The magazine continued until 1992.