Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Hayter, Charles
HAYTER, CHARLES (1761–1835), miniature-painter, born on 24 Feb. 1761, was a son of Charles Hayter, an architect and builder in Hampshire. He was brought up to his father's profession, but, developing a talent for drawing small pencil portraits, devoted himself to miniature-painting, which he practised first in his native county, and afterwards in London. He earned a considerable reputation by his portraits in water-colours on ivory and in crayons on vellum, and was a constant exhibitor at the Royal Academy between 1786 and 1832. He gave lessons in perspective to the Princess Charlotte of Wales, and dedicated to her a useful work, published in 1813, ‘An Introduction to Perspective, adapted to the capacities of Youth, in a series of pleasing and familiar Dialogues,’ &c., which went through six editions, the last issued in 1845. In accepting the dedication, the princess authorised Hayter to style himself professor of perspective and drawing to her royal highness. He was also author of ‘A New Practical Treatise on the three Primitive Colours, assumed as a perfect System of Rudimental Information,’ &c., with coloured diagrams, London, 1826, 8vo. Hayter died in London on 1 Dec. 1835. He married in 1788 Martha Stevenson of Charing Cross, and was the father of Sir George Hayter [q. v.] and of John Hayter, at one time a fashionable portrait draughtsman in crayons, who was born in 1800, and still survives.
[Redgrave's Dict. of Artists; Graves's Dict. of Artists, 1760–1880; Universal Cat. of Books on Art; information from Angelo C. Hayter, esq.]