Joseph Goodyear

Joseph Goodyear (1799–1839) was an English engraver.

Goodyear was born in Birmingham in 1799. He was first apprenticed to an engraver on plate in that town named Tye. He also studied drawing under G. V. Burkes at Birmingham. He came to London, and was employed at first by Mr. Allen on engraving devices for shop bills and the like. In 1822 Goodyear placed himself under Charles Heath, the well-known engraver, for three years. Subsequently he was extensively employed on the minute illustrations and vignettes which adorned the elegant 'Annuals' so much in vogue at that date.

In 1830 he exhibited two engravings at the Suffolk Street Exhibition.

He did not execute any large plate until he was employed by William and Edward Finden to engrave Eastlake's picture of 'The Greek Fugitives' for their Gallery of British Art. This he completed, and the engraving was much admired, but the mental strain and prolonged exertion which was required for so carefully finished an engraving broke down his health. He endured a lingering illness for a year, and died at his house in Kentish Town on 1 October 1839, in his forty-first year. He was buried in Highgate Cemetery.