Poy, Percy Fearon (1874 - 1948)

Percy Fearon Poy original cartoon artwork.

Born in Shanghai, Poy studied art in New York and Bushey, Hertfordshire. Principal cartoonist on Judy from 1879-98 he then joined the Manchester Evening Chronicle (1905-07), Daily Dispatch and Sunday Chronicle (1907-13). In 1913 he moved to London and became a contributor to the Evening News and the Daily Mail until 1939. Amongst Fearon’s most famous creations were John Citizen, Cuthbert the First World War conscientious objector, Government Gus and Dora, the latter personifying the 1914 Defence of the Realm Act. His pen name was said to derive from the American pronunciation of his first name, Poycee, whilst he was in New York.