STRANGE, Sir RonEwr. eminent as an engraver, was born in Pomona. one of the Orkney islands„ July 14. 1721. After some little abortive study of law tt Edinburgh, he was apprenticed to an engraver there of the name of Cooper, under Whom he made rapid progress. In 1745 he deserted art for arms, joining the of Charles Edward, not so much from enthusiasm in his cause, as to find favor with a miss Isabella Lumisden, who would only consent to be gracious to hint on that romantic condition. The only exploit recorded of him in this relation is not one of glorious battle. After the final collapse of the adventure, he was in hiding in the liGuse where miss Lumisden resided; and on occa sion of its being- searched by the soldiery, lie shrouded himself under the folds of her ample pcitticoat, and thus cleverly evaded detection It is extremely satisfactory to know that very soon after the lady requited his heroism by marryino. him. He now went abroad with his wife, and at Paris he prosecuted his art under the tutelage of the cele brated Le Bas, and afterward of Descamps. In 1751 he returned to Britain. and settling
himself in London, speedily attained the very highest rank in his profession. On again going abroad in 1760 to execute plates of the most famous pictures of the old masters, his eminence was recognized by the academies of Paris, Home, Florence, Bologna, and Parma, all Of which conferred on him the honor of membership; and subsequently in 1787, the distinction of knighthood testified to the high favor be found in his own coun try. After a life of honorable and successful industry, lie died on July 5, 1792, leaving a handsome fortune to his fariiiy. To this day, Strange iA ranked at the very head of British engravers, and his reproductions of the nobler specimens of the old masters are much prized by the connoisseur. In the very amusing work entitled Memoirs ff Sir Robert Strange, Knight, Engraver, and of his Brother-in-law, Andrew liamiltden, Private Secretary to the Stuart Princes (2 vols., 1855), by James Denuistoun of Dennistoun, a full account will be found of him, with an intelligent criticism of his chief works.