Louis John Rhead (November 6, 1857 – July 29, 1926) was an English-born American artist, illustrator, author and angler who was born in Etruria, Staffordshire, England.

Louis' father George W. Rhead worked in the pottery industry and was a highly respected gilder and ceramic artist.

Because Louis demonstrated exceptional talent, when he was thirteen in 1872, his father sent him to study in Paris, France with artist Gustave Boulanger.

After three years in Paris, Louis Rhead returned to work in the potteries as a ceramic artist at Minton and later at Wedgwood.

In 1883 at the age of twenty-four, Louis Rhead was offered a position as Art Director for the U.S. publishing firm of D. Appleton in New York City.

Louis and Catherine lived in Flatbush, Brooklyn overlooking Prospect Park for forty years.

A portion of his obituary in The New York Times, Friday July 30, 1926: LOUIS RHEAD, ARTIST AND ANGLER, DEAD.

... About two weeks ago Mr. Rhead set out to catch a turtle weighing thirty pounds which had been devastating trout ponds on his place, Seven Oaks.

Bumpus hoped to take a version of the exhibition to the US, but, despite American interest in the Rhead family, this project foundered.