Timeline

1831

Born on March 12 in Worcester, England as Benjamin Leader Williams

1854

Admitted as a student to the Royal Academy Schools in London

1857

Changed his name to "Benjamin Williams Leader" in order to distinguish himself from the many other painters with the surname "Williams"

1861

Moved to London

1862 - 1889

Lived in Whittington

1865

On a visit to Paris, he came to admire the plein air (open-air) techniques used by the French Barbizon artists

1876

Married fellow artist Mary Eastlake

1883

Became Associate of the Royal Academy

1889

Moved to Burrows Crosse House in Surrey, which was designed by Norman Shaw for the artist Frank Holl (British, 1845-1888)

Leader was made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour, an honour secured on the recommendation of French artist Meissonier

Received a gold medal for his painting In the evening it shall be light (1882), exhibited that year at the Exposition Universelle in Paris

1898

Became a Royal Academician (RA)

1914

Honorary Freeman of the City of Worcester in recognition of his services (as a director of Royal Worcester Porcerlain and a native of the city)

One of his paintings entered the royal collection, when King George V and Queen Mary purchased On the Llugwy, Bettws-y-coed

1923

Died on 22 March in Surrey