early life and education sir william hamo thornycroft was born in london, england, on march 9, 1850, into a family of sculptors. his parents, thomas and mary, and his grandfather, john, were all distinguished sculptors. thornycroft's early education took place at the modern free grammar school in macclesfield and later at the university college school in london. he then studied at the royal academy schools, where he was influenced by the painter-sculptor frederic leighton. artistic career thornycroft's artistic career began with assisting his father on the monumental sculptural group boadicea…