Who was CROKER, JOHN?

CROKER, JOHN, otherwise IOHANN CROCKER (Brit.). A distinguished Medallist, born at Dresden, 2st October 1670, died at London, 21st March, 1741. He was first apprenticed to a jeweller, but after visiting Germany and Holland, he came to England, in 1691, where he learnt die-sinking. In 1697, he was appointed Assistant-engraver to the London Mint, and in 1705, on the death of Harris, Chief-engraver, he succeeded him in this post, which he held until his death. The following biographical notes of the artist are reprinted from an article in the Numismatic Chronicle, 1853. “Johann Crocker was a native of Saxony, born at Dresden. It appears that he accommodated his name to Croker, as more suitable to the English pronunciation. On a medal of Queen Anne, struck in commemoration of the battle of Blenheim in 1704, he spells his name Croker. "The father of our artist, who was a distinguished woodcarver and cabinet maker to the Electoral Court of Saxony, died, leaving him, very young, with several other still younger children. Happily, however, his mother, whose maiden name was Rosina Frauenlob, took great care of their education, as Croker in later years often mentioned with gratitude. When he had attained a sufficient age, his god-father, who was a near relation, and an eminent goldsmith and jeweller at Dresden, having observed his talents, took him as an apprentice to himself. “Young Croker proved very industrious, and soon made great progress. There is so much affinity between the art of jewellery and of goldsmith's work on the one hand, and that of die-sinking and medal-engraving on the other, that Croker was led at an early age to devote his leisure hours to this latter occupation, and for that purpose endeavoured to improve his knowledge of drawing and modelling. Notwithstanding the progress that he made, he still thought it advisable to consider these studies merely as secondary, until an opportunity should offer itself for turning them into account. After the expiration of his apprenticeship, he commenced travelling in the practice of his profession, and visited most of the great towns of Germany. He afterwards went to Holland, and thence to England, where he arrived towards the end of the year 1691. He there engaged himself to an eminent jeweller, and applied himself so zealously to his profession, as to obtain in a few years the reputation of a skilful master. “He did not however neglect any opportunity of improving himself in medal-engraving, and the progress he had already made so stimulated his desire for distinction, that he resolved to apply more time to the art, and was so successful in his studies that he at length adopted, as his principal profession, that which he had formerly regarded only as a secondary occupation. After working some time exclusively as a medallist, Croker became known in that capacity to many influential persons, particularly to those who had the administration of the Royal Mint, and in token of the high opinion entertained both of his diligence and ability, he was appointed in 1697 an assistant to the chief engraver of the Mint. "Owing to the unusually large amount of the silver coinage required at that time, Croker was overwhelmed with work which, with all his talent and application, he found very difficult to complete ; indeed the conduct of such a business as the Mint was no small trial for a beginner. Such however was his activity and skill, and with such faithfulness and unwearied diligence did he discharge his duty, that he soon gained the esteem of all his superiors. As it happened at that period that the chief engraver was prevented by circumstances from giving more than a general inspection to the operations of the Mint, the practical execution of his work was soon entrusted to Croker ; so that the business may be said to have been conducted jointly by them. This arrangement continued during the remainder of the reign of William III., from which period we have a medal by Croker in commemoration of the Peace of Ryswick. "After the accession of Queen Anne in 1702, the first production on which he was engaged was the Coronation medal. It is also required of the chief engraver of the Royal Mint, to make the original dies for all the obverses of the standard coins, which consisted at that time of fourteen varieties, four in gold, eight in silver, and two in copper. It may be easily conceived how much labour and diligence was required for the accomplishment of such a task, especially at the beginning of a new reign. Croker, however, by his indefatigable industry performed it to the entire satisfaction of his superiors. After the decease of the chief engraver, which happened in 1705, Croker, by a diploma dated the 17th of April of the same year, was nominated to the office. About the same time he took to himself a wife, and like Esau, took one of the daughters of the land, marrying a Miss Franklin, of a wellknown family in England, with whom he lived thirty years in matrimonial bliss. She died in 1735, having had only one daughter, who died young. “Having a nephew at Dresden, named Maurer, who was a skilful seal-engraver and die-sinker, Croker applied to him to come over and join him in London. His prosperous marriage contributed much to his general happiness, and to that serenity of mind so necessary to the successful performance of the duties of his office. He was also still in the enjoyment of the full vigour of life. “Early in the reign of Queen Anne, England became involved in a war, which was however distinguished by so many gallant and glorious actions, that abundant opportunities occurred for the execution of medals to commemorate these achievements, as well as upon other occasions connected with state events, so that during this reign, though of little more than twelve years' duration, twenty-nine different medals were brought out by Croker, besides many others designs begun by him, but which having been rejected by the authorities were never executed. "Although he availed himself now and then of the aid of an assistant, his activity and diligence are still deserving of admiration, in finding so much time to devote to the execution of medals without neglecting the regular and highly important duties of the Mint. “At the commencement of the reign of George I., in 1714, the labours of Croker were increased by the demand for the immediate preparation of the coronation medal, and others connected with the accession of that monarch to the throne; for instance, the medal of his arrival in England. A change was also necessary in the entire coinage of the realm. The Peace of Utrecht, which brought a large quantity of gold and silver into the Mint, doubled for several years the business of coinage. Notwithstanding this difficulty, nine medals executed by Croker's own hand, appeared during the reign of George I., which lasted scarcely thirteen years. "Though the increase of years was by no means observable in his works, yet the authorities of the Mint determined to relieve him in his old age, and they accordingly chose a young man of good family, patronised by the king ana the government, with the intention of giving him to Croker as an apprentice and assistant. Scarcely, however, had he arrived to do service in that capacity, when death made his intention void, before he had derived the expected benefit from his instructor. Croker was therefore obliged to take upon himself once more the entire burden of business, commencing immediately after the accession of George II. in 1727, with the coronation medal of His Majesty and Queen Caroline, and afterwards retaking into his own hands, not merely the general superintendence of the Mint, but the execution of all the obverses for the dies of the current coins. And though an endeavour was again made to procure a second assistant for him, this was not accomplished until the year 1729. Activity had become so essential to the artist as to be almost second nature, and he could not remain without occupation ; he accordingly very seldom availed himself of any assistance, especially in the ordinary business of the Mint. He executed with his own hand all the five medals published during his life-time in George the Second's reign, employing occasionally an assistant for the reverses only. Happily he possessed even in his old age an unusually fine eyesight, and enjoyed excellent health, which enabled him to fulfil to the last his duties to the Crown, which he had served so long and so zealously. This continued until the last two years of his life, when the inevitable infirmities of old age made their appearance, not however so severely as to confine him to his bed. The fatigues of business had exhausted nature, and he became gradually weaker, notwithstanding which he occupied himself occasionally in the superintendence of his department, employing the remainder of his time in reading instructive and devotional books ; and though throughout life he had never, even when most laboriously engaged, neglected the duties of religion, he now devoted himself more exclusively to such thoughts. In this praiseworthy manner he ended his life on the 21st March 1741 at the age of 71. He left behind him the reputation of an honest man, a good Christian, and a faithful and diligent servant of the Grown of England. " Croker executed the following medals : The State of Britain after the Peace of Ryswick, 1697; — Accession of Queen Anne, 1702 (2 var.); — Coronation, 1702; — Investiture of Prince George of Denmark, consort of the Queen, as Commander-in- Chief, 1702; — Expedition to Vigo Bay, October 1702; — Capitulation of Towns on the Meuse, 29th October 1702 ; — Cities captured by Marlborough, 1703 (2 var.) ; — Queen Anne's Bounty, 1704 (2 var.); — Battle of Blenheim, 13th October 1704; — Capture of Gibraltar, and Naval Engagement off Malaga, 1704; — Barcelona relieved, 12th May, 1706; — Battle of Ramillies, 23rd May 1706, 2 var. (illustrated); — Union of England and Scotland, 1st May 1707; — Another, on the same event, R. by Samuel Bull (2 var.) ; — Attempted Invasion of Scotland, 24th May 1708; R. By Samuel Bull; — Battle of Oudenarde, 11st July 1708; — Capture of Sardinia and Minorca, 30th September 1708; — Jeton on the same event; — Citadel of Lille taken, 9th December 1708 ; — City of Tournay taken, 29th July 1709 ; — Battle of Malplaquet, 11th September 1709; — Mons taken, 21st October 1709; — Douai taken, 25th June 1710; — Battle of Almenara, 27th July 1710 (illustrated); — The French Lines passed, and Bouchain taken, 14th September 1711; — Peace of Utrecht, 11th April 1713 . R. Britannia seated ; — Another, on the same event, Britannia standing; — Medallic portrait of Anne; — Arrival of George I. in England, 29th September 1714 ; — Entry of George I. into London, 20th September (O. S.) 1714; — Coronation, 31st October 1714; — Battle of Sheriffmuir or Dunblain, 13th November 1715 ; — Preston taken, 13th November 1715 ; — The Act of Grace, 15th July 1717 (2 var.); — Treaty of Passarowitz, 21st July 1718; — Naval Action off Cape Passaro, 11th August 1718; — Caroline, Princess of Wales, 1718 ; — The Order of the Bath revived, 1725 ; — Sir Isaac Newton, † 20th March 1727 (illustrated); — Coronation of George II., 11th October 1727; — Coronation of Queen Caroline, 11th October 1727; — Second Treaty of Vienna, 16th March 1731 ; — Medal of the Royal Family, 1732; — Portrait-medallion in ivory of the famous painter, Sir Godfrey Kneller (illustrated), actual size, 94 mill., &c. As already mentioned, Croker cut the dies for the successive coinages of William III., Anne, Georgel., and George II (first issue). He was succeeded at the Mint by Tanner, the engraver of the Jernegan's Lottery Medal, wrongly attributed to Croker by Vertue, who -mentions that 30.000 specimens were struck. The medal in question is that presenting Minerva on Obv., and Queen Caroline on R. watering a grove of palm-trees, with legend : GROWING ARTS ADORN EMPIRE. The coins engraved by Croker under the reigns of William III., Anne, George I. and George II. excel in style and workmanship and rank amongst the best productions of the British coinage, although Thomas Simon, Pistrucci and William Wyon have surpassed him in many respects. On account of their artistic merit, mention may be made in passing of Queen Anne's farthings, which are probably the work of Croker and his assistants, Samuel Bull and Gabriel Clerk. Six distinct varieties exist in the British Museum ; they are as follows : 1. Obv. ANNA AVGVSTA. Diademed head of the Queen to 1. R. PAX . MISSA . PER . ORBEM. Peace, holding olive-branch, in biga to r.; ex. 1713 (illustrated) ; — 2. Obv. ANNA. DEI. GRATIA. Bust similar. R. BRITANNIA. Britannia seated on globe beneath a portico ; ex. 1713 ; — 3. Obv. Similar. R. BRITANNIA. 1713. Britannia seated to 1. ; — 4. Obv. ANNA DEI. GRATIA, legend sunk. Diademed bust of the Queen to 1. of inferior work. R. BELLO . ET . PACE. Britannia erect, with an olive-branch in her right hand, and in the left a spear. (The late Mr H. Montagu in a paper published in the Num. Chron. 1887, " Queen Anne's so-called ' Bella et Pace' Farthing" attributes this piece to Samuel Bull, and considers it simply as a jetoru an opinion which is not shared by most numismatists); — 5. Obv. ANNA REGINA. Diademed bust to 1. R. BRITANNIA. Britannia seated to 1 ex 1714; - 6. Obv. ANNA DEI GRATIA. Similar bust R. Similar. These pattern farthings are known in gold, silver and copper, and some types are very rare, such as varieties nos 1 and 2 and especially n° 3, which never turns up in fine condition. — Besides these, a large number of trumpery tokens of brass, thinner than the real copper farthings, exist which are simply worthless counters by unknown, artists. The Halfpennies of the same reign were probably also the work of Croker and his assistants. Besides the ordinary issues, Montagu describes ten varieties of patterns. In the Murdoch Collection of Medals, dispersed in June 1904, an unpublished Portrait-medallion in ivory of Sir Godfrey Kneller (illustrated) realized ? 25. Bibliography. — Franks and Grueber, Medallic Illustrations of the History of Great Britain and Ireland to the Death of George II., London, 1885 . — J. G. Pfister, Memoir of Johann Croker, Numismatic Chronicle, London, 1852, and Numismatic Circular, August 1894. — Van Loon, Histoire métallique des Pays-Bas, 1732. — A. J. C. van Geemund, Het Leven en de Werken van den Stempelsnijder Johann Crocker (1670-1741), Tijdschrift van het Ned. Genoot. Voor Munt-en Penningkunde, Amsterdam, 1894, and Numismatic Circular, August and September 1894. — H. A. Grueber, Guide to the Exhibition of English Medals at the British Museum, London, 1891.

Source: Biographical dictionary of medallists; coin, gem, and seal-engravers, mint-masters, ancient and modern, with references to their works B.C. 500-A.D. 1900; compiled by L. Forrer, London 1904