Bernard
Gillam was
born in England in 1859. Nine years later the Gillam family moved
to the United States. Gillam studied law but tried to establish himself
as a portrait painter. He later turned to cartooning and had his work
published in Frank Leslie's Illustrated,
Harper's Weekly and Puck
Magazine where he was influenced by the work of Joseph
Zeppler. Gillam also worked for The
Judge, a magazine where he became director-in-chief.
During the 1884 presidential campaign Gillam's attacks on James
Blaine is believed to have played a significant role in helping
Grover Cleveland win victory. On Blaine's
body was engraved details of charges of corruption made by his political
past. Blaine threatened to sue but was persuaded by his political
friends to back down. Ironically, Gillam was a Republican
who voted for Blaine in 1884. Bernhard Gillam died of typhoid
in 1896.
Bernard Gillam, James Blaine: Tattooed Man, Puck
(4th June, 1884)
Available
from Amazon Books (order below)
