Alfred Crowquill was the pseudonym of Alfred Henry Forrester (b. London, 10 September 1804; d. London, 26 May 1872), illustrator, caricaturist and writer. The son and brother of public notaries in the City of London, he worked in the family business until his mid-thirties, but began publishing illustrations at an early age. Now best known as a wood engraver, with a rich vein of grotesque fantasy which helps to define the Victorian age, Crowquill contributed extensively to Bentley’s Miscellany, Punch and The Illustrated London News and over a period of almost fifty years illustrated numerous books by himself (mainly children’s stories) and other writers. He also wrote and designed burlesques and pantomimes, modelled portrait sculpture and worked as a photographer for Clarkington’s in Regent Street. According to his Times obituary he “could dash off a little tale with rare humour, infuse much spirit into a song, and win the attention of children ….”  He died at 3 Portland Place North, Clapham Road and is buried in West Norwood Cemetery.