Artist. Born the son of an amateur artist in Roxbury, Massachusetts, he learned silhouette cutting from his father at an early age. He attended the Art Students League School in Manhattan for two years before he started plying his trade as a freelance artist, selling sketches to Life Magazine. Harper’s Weekly, Scribners and Colliers Magazine. In 1890 he developed a drawing that was, in his words, ment to represent the American Girl to all the world. The Gibson Girl craze ballooned, catapulting Gibson to the head of the social register and labeling him New York’s most eligible bachelor. Merchandising of the Gibson Girl included publications of collected drawings, china plates, saucers, ashtrays, tablecloths, pillow covers, chair covers, souvenir spoons, screens, fans, umbrella stands, and wallpaper. Magazines wrangled for exclusive rights to his drawings, making headlines and a great deal of money for Gibson. He always maintained a relationship with Life Magazine, however, as they had given him his start by buying his first commercial drawing. WWI saw the beginning of the end of the popularity of the Gibson Girl. She would be replaced in the public affection by the flapper. In 1918, Gibson became the editor of Life Magazine. Relieved of endless variations on a theme, Gibson moved on; working with oil paints. He retired in 1936. (bio by: Iola)  Family links:  Spouse:  Irene Langhorne Gibson (1873 – 1956)*  Children:  Langhorne Gibson (1899 – 1982)* *Calculated relationshipCause of death: Heart aillment