Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Buckler, John
BUCKLER, JOHN (1770–1851), topographical artist, was born 30 Nov. 1770 at Calbourne, Isle of Wight. He was articled for seven years to Mr. Cracklow, an architect in Southwark, and was himself an architect until 1826, when he resigned that branch of his profession to his eldest son. He was known to Dr. Routh, president of Magdalen College, Oxford, and under his patronage published in 1797 two aquatint engravings of Magdalen College. In 1799 he published a similar view of Lincoln Minster, and from that year until 1815 continued to publish aquatint engravings of cathedrals, collegiate and abbey churches, and a few other churches and private mansions. His son, John Chessell Buckler, published in 1822 ‘Views of Cathedral Churches in England,’ which are principally copied from his father's previously published prints. John Chessell Buckler also contributed to ‘Views of Eaton Hall’ in 1826, and in 1827 to ‘Sixty Views of Endowed Grammar Schools,’ chiefly from his father's drawings. An ‘Historical and Descriptive Account of the Royal Palace at Eltham’ in 1828, ‘Remarks upon Wayside Chapels’ in 1843, ‘History of the Architecture of the Abbey Church at St. Albans’ in 1847, are by John Chessell Buckler. His son Charles, afterwards Charles Alban Buckler, co-operated in the last two. John Chessell Buckler also made the drawings for a description of the cathedral of Iona (1866), and published a ‘Description of Lincoln Cathedral’ (1866). He published in 1823 an anonymous work upon the architecture of Magdalen College, Oxford.
Sir R. C. Hoare employed John Buckler to make drawings of ancient buildings in Wiltshire, Lord Grenville gave him a similar commission for Buckinghamshire, Dr. Whitaker for Yorkshire, H. S. Pigott for Somersetshire, and W. Salt for Staffordshire. From 1796 to 1849 he contributed water-colour drawings yearly to the Royal Academy. He was elected F.S.A. in 1810. He died in London 6 Dec. 1851, leaving six surviving children. A portrait by Sir W. Newton has been engraved. John Buckler (d. 4 Dec. 1857), secretary to the Wanstead Orphan Asylum, was distantly, if at all, related.
[Gent. Mag. for January 1852; Redgrave's Dictionary of Artists; A. Graves's Dict. of Artists; information from the family.]