Billy Waters (c. 1778–1823) was a black man who busked in London in the nineteenth century by singing, playing the violin and entertaining theatre goers with his "peculiar antics".

[3] His striking image was established by his African ancestry, a naval uniform, his peg leg, his violin and the addition of a feathered hat.

[1] At the end of his life, Waters was popularly elected as the "King of the Beggars" in the parish of St Giles because of his fame and the regard of his peers.

This is in contrast to the engraving done by George Cruikshank in 1819 where Waters is shown providing entertainment for a fictional "celebrated dinner" of those involved in Anti-Slavery.

It has been argued that the printing process may reverse the image, but Billy Waters is clearly holding the body of his violin in his left arm, which would be correct for a right-handed person.