Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775-1851) was born in Covent Garden, London, son of a William Turner a barber and wig-maker, and his wife Mary Marshall. He entered the Royal Academy Schools in 1789. In a long and exceptionally distinguished career, he exhibited 259 works at the Royal Academy between 1790 and 1850 and 17 at the British Institution 1806-1846, predominantly landscapes, sometimes with historical themes. Generally considered the greatest painter in the history of British art, Turner remained a Londoner and kept a Cockney accent all his life, avoiding the veneer of social polish acquired by many artists of the time as they climbed the professional ladder. He died in Chelsea, London and was buried in St Paul's Cathedral.