Artist, Chief Engraver (b. 7/16/1756 d. 9/12-13/1793)

Born in Bordentown, New Jersey. Married Miss Vandervoort in 1787. They had three children. Wright studied painting with John Trumbull.

Wright settled in London in 1772 and returned to America in 1782. He painted George and Martha Washington in 1783. He was appointed by Washington as first draftsman and die sinker for the U. S. Mint in 1792.

He and his wife died in Philadelphia in 1793 in one of several epidemics of yellow fever that would affect Philadelphia and the mint.

Wright is credited with the design for the Liberty Cap cents of 1793-94. He died before they were produced.

Wright produced dies for the Major Henry Lee medal. (Betts 575, Julian MI-5, 6)

bio: ApCAB; DAB; Drake; Fielding; Loubat; NCAB 20; NYHSD; P-F; Stauffer; WWWA-H

profile: NUM 67 Dec 1954 pages 1282-1287