Born in Hampton, Connecticut. Married to Julia Ann Brainard in 1830 and divorced in 1846. They had a son.

He attended the National Academy of Design in New York City.

Employed as an engraver in Albany, New York, and later Lancaster, Massachusetts with the firm of Carter, Andrews & Company. Later with the New York Bank Note Company. Still later founder of the Continental Bank Note Company.

He invented the “grammagraph” to copy bank note dies, medal ruling machines and geometric lathes. He engraved plates for various bank notes and for publications such as the Columbian Magazine.

Researcher Wendell Wolka identified Ormsby notes produced for 48 customers with about two-thirds of the issues fraudulent.

He died in Brooklyn, New York.

Profile: NUM Dec 2016