William Morris
/ˌwɪljəm ˈmɒrɪs/
/ˌwɪljəm ˈmɔːrɪs/
- (1834-96) an English designer, artist, poet, businessman and socialist. As an artist and poet he was influenced by the Pre-Raphaelites but he is best known as a designer of furniture and decoration for houses. He disliked the mass production methods of his time and wanted the role of the traditional craftsman to continue. He established his own company which produced handmade furniture and interior decoration using traditional methods. Many of these designs, especially for wallpaper and fabrics, are still used today. His belief in traditional methods led Morris to become much involved in the Arts and Crafts Movement. He also started the Kelmscott Press to continue traditional methods of printing. As one of the early socialists in Britain, Morris was a supporter of social change and formed his own Socialist League in 1884. He led his own campaigns on the streets against what he saw as the terrible effects of the Industrial Revolution on workers.