George Burchett
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2008-06-25T14:48:34Z
134.225.186.227
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'''George 'Professor' Burchett''' (also styled the 'King of Tattooists') was born George Burchett-Davis on [[August 23]], [[1872]], in the [[England|English]] seaside town of [[Brighton]], [[East Sussex]] and became one of the most famous [[tattoo artist]]s in the world.
Having been expelled from school at 12 for tattooing his classmates, he joined the [[Royal Navy]] at 13, developing his skills while travelling overseas as a deckhand on the [[HMS Vincent]]. After absconding from the Navy, he returned to England, where he was trained in tattoo artistry in [[London]] by the legendary English tattooists [[Tom Riley (tattooist)|Tom Riley]] and [[Sutherland MacDonald]].
With a studio on Mile End Road, London, Burchett became the first star tattooist and a favourite among the wealthy upper class and European royalty. Among his customers were King [[Alfonso XIII]] of Spain, King [[Frederick IX of Denmark]], and the 'Sailor King' [[George V of the United Kingdom]]. He also tattooed [[Horace Ridler]] ('The Great Omi').
He constantly designed new tattoos from his worldwide travel, incorporating African, Japanese and Southeast Asian motifs into his work. In the 1930s he developed [[Permanent makeup|cosmetic tattooing]] with such techniques as permanently darkening eyebrows.
He continued tattooing until he died suddenly on [[Good Friday]] in 1953 at the age of 81. His [[autobiography]], ''Memoirs of a Tattooist'', edited by Peter Leighton, was published in 1956 by Oldbourne Book Company and includes photographs illustrating some of his tattoo designs.
==References==
* [http://wiki.bmezine.com/index.php/George_Burchett George Burchett] ''The BME Encyclopedia'' feature
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[[Category:1872 births]]
[[Category:1953 deaths]]
[[Category:Tattoo artists]]