John Singleton Copley (July 3, 1738-September 9, 1815) was an American artist of the colonial period, famous for his portraits of important figures in colonial New England. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, his portraits were innovative in that they tended to portray their subjects with artifacts that were indicative of their lives.
In 1774, Copley travelled to England to continue painting there. His new works focused mainly on historical themes, and are sometimes dismissed by critics as lacking the vibrancy of his earlier portraits. He died in London in 1815.