Harrison Weir

Harrison William Weir RI (5 May 1824 – 3 January 1906), known as "The Father of the Cat Fancy", was a British artist.

In 1887 Harrison Weir founded the National Cat Club and was its first President and Show Manager until his resignation in 1890.

in 1842 Herbert Ingram founded The Illustrated London News and employed Weir as a draughtsman on wood and engraver from the first issue and for many years thereafter.

In 1845 Weir made a first exhibition consisting of an oil painting of a wild duck, "The Dead Shot", at the British Institution.

The final third of Weir's book is various explanations and commentary on a multitude of feline-related topics, ranging from cat-derived proverbs, to feline Shakespearean theatre to Belgian cat-racing.

As a show judge, Weir was especially interested in cats, poultry, and pigeons, and these animals, along with dogs and rabbits, seem to be favourites in his art.

In addition to gardening, fruit growing, field naturalist studies, and poultry breeding, Weir belonged to many clubs: the Savage, Whitefriars, Constitutional, Horticultural, Wigwam, Hamburgh, etc.