William Berczy

William Berczy studied at University of Jena and Academy of Fine Arts Vienna. The recorded working language is German. Subjects and genres recorded for the work are portrait. Works named in the authority record are Family of Peter Leopold, Grand Duke of Tuscany. Work by William Berczy is recorded in the collections of National Gallery of Canada, Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec, Musée de la civilisation, McCord Stewart Museum and Augustiner Museum.

• Name — William von Moll Berczy • Birth Name — Johann Albrecht Ulrich Moll • Born — December 10, 1744 • Birthplace — Wallerstein, Bavaria • Died — 5 February 1813 • Place of death — New York City • Other Names — William Burksay (the name on his coffin) • Spouse — Jeanne-Charlotte Allamand • Occupation — * Diplomat • artist • land speculator • architect • Illustration — William Berczy, The family of Peter Leopold of Tuscany, 1781–1782, Galleria d'Arte moderna, Florence • Illustration — William Berczy, The Woolsey Family (1809)

Berczy was born in Wallerstein, Swabia, Electorate of Bavaria (part of the Holy Roman Empire and now in Germany) as a son of the Wirklicher Hofrat (Albrecht Theodor Moll) and Johanna Josepha Walpurga Moll (née Hefele). Berczy was originally named Johann Albrecht Ulrich Moll, but started going by the name William Berczy in the 1770s after having received the nickname “Berczy” from a Hungarian militia troop leader he met during his diplomatic mission in Poland. After his marriage, he officially changed his name. He studied at the Akademie der bildenden Künste in Vienna and at the University of Jena in Saxony. His early career was spent in several European countries, including Poland, Switzerland, and Italy. In 1792, Berczy sailed for the Americas, settling in Philadelphia, then setting up a business in York, Upper Canada (now Toronto). A few years later, his work took him to Lower Canada (Quebec). Berczy married, on November 1, 1785, Jeanne-Charlotte Berczy née Allamand (1760–1839) of Lausanne (canton of Bern, now - since 1803 - canton of Vaud), Switzerland. They had two sons, William Bent Berczy and Charles Albert Berczy. His son Charles Albert Berczy became the second postmaster of Toronto. Berczy helped John Graves Simcoe establish a settlement north of York, called German Mills with his migrants under the German Land Company, which later became the town of Markham. "William Berczy, co-founder of Toronto, along with his German Pioneers, cleared part of the townsite of York (Toronto), erected houses and a magazine, built 15 miles of Yonge street (Eglinton to Elgin Mills some without shoes) in addition to 30 miles of roads in Markham township and also cleared 24 miles of the Rouge river waterway for navigation." Berczy built homes in York and Markham, including Russell Abbey in York. Berczy painted. His two best-known pictures are a full-length portrait of the Mohawk chief Thayendanegea (Joseph Brant) (c. 1807) and a group portrait of the Woolsey Family (1809). Although best known for his portraits, he also carried out religious paintings and architectural work, including plans for the Anglican Christ Church Cathedral in Montreal in 1803, and was a surveyor. Berczy travelled to New York City during the War of 1812 and was stranded when attempting to travel. He first stayed in Middlebury, Vermont, with friends, then to Albany, New York, then to New York City from which he planned to travel to England. He fell ill while in New York and died while in the care of friends. He was buried in an unmarked grave at Trinity Church as William Burksay. His wife moved in with her son William and died on September 18, 1839, in Sainte-Mélanie, Lower Canada. Berczy was also survived by his other son, Charles Albert Berczy.

Berczy is the subject of John Steffler's biographical novel (Gaspereau Press, 2015).

His recorded language was German. 2 children are recorded: William Bent Berczy and Charles Albert Berczy.