Backhouse, the dedicatee of
Bibliography of Ruskin (1878–81) by
Richard Herne Shepherd, was an artist and wood engraver.
He was born in
Liverpool to
Ruth,
wife of
Thomas Backhouse, whose occupation was a sailmaker,
according to
“Baptisms at St Peter in the City of Liverpool” (Register for 1818–1819”),
or a wine merchant, according to the entry in the
Dictionary of National Biography
for his wife, the artist
Margaret Backhouse, née Holden (
1818–96).
(
Yeldham, “Margaret Backhouse”).
One of their daughters,
Mary, was also an artist.
Backhouse died
in
Kew,
London, and was buried in
East Sheen and Richmond Cemeteries
(
“Henry Fleetwood Backhouse” [Grave]))