Walter Paris

Born February 28, 1842, in London, England. Apprenticed to the architect Benjamin Ferrey, 1858. Student at the Royal Academy, 1859–62. Became an associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects, 1862. Worked in Bombay, India, as architect for the British Crown, 1863–70. Came to the U.S., 1872. In Colorado, 1874–75; briefly joined the Ferdinand Hayden Survey; met William Henry Holmes. Settled temporarily in Colorado Springs. In Washington, D.C., 1875. In London, 1876. In New York, 1877–82. Was a founder-member of the Tile Club, which was organized in his studio, 1877. Visited Colorado Springs, 1878. Sold numerous watercolors to the Kensington Museum, London. Took several trips to London, 1882. In Washington, D.C., 1883–86. Made a lifetime member of the Georgetown Orchestra, as violinist. In India, 1886–90, as architect for the Crown. Trip to London, 1887. Lived in Washington, 1890–1906. Built a house and studio, never occupied. Naturalized, 1894. Died November 26, 1906, in Washington, D.C.

Andrew J. Cosentino and Henry H. Glassie The Capital Image: Painters in Washington, 1800–1915 (Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press for the National Museum of American Art, 1983)