william james linton was an english-born american wood-engraver, landscape painter, political reformer and author of memoirs, novels, poetry and non-fiction.born in mile end, east london, his family moved to stratford, essex in 1818. the young linton was educated at chigwell grammar school, an early 17th-century foundation attended by many sons of the essex and city of london middle classes.aged 15, linton was apprenticed to the wood-e…