Thomas Wood Of Billericay Mills In Essex

Published March 1st 1774 by John Thane ....Gerrard Street, Soho.
Within a 19th century 'Hogarth' frame
o.s: 11.5 in x 15.5 in
This famous eighteenth century miller was born to Abraham and Mary Wood in Mill Cottages Billericay, Essex. By the age if 13 he had survived many life-threatening illnesses, including smallpox, and thereafter lived a life of celebratory excess resulting in his achieving a huge size. By the age of 44 he began a return to ill health suffering from a full range of diet related sicknesses. His community began to refer to him as ‘Ghastly Miller’.
In a desperately sad state, he sought the advice of a local clergyman who directed him to the writings of one Luigi Cornaro, a 17th century Italian dietician.
As indicated in the title band of this print, Thomas took up a frugal vegetarian diet based on a pudding made of seabiscuits mixed with boiled skimmed milk and eggs. He abstained from alcohol, drinking only water, and avoided all forms of animal fat surviving on just his pudding. He exercised with dumbbells, took cold baths two or three times each day and strictly controlled his sleep.
Over a two or three year period Thomas honed his diet to become essentially vegan, removing the egg and dairy from his diet and his good health was completely restored; his weight greatly reduced. Within his community he was now referred to as ‘The Abstemious Miller’.
Following a report of his success in the Gentleman’s Magazine, Thomas began to receive a great many letters seeking his advice and a cure for obesity. Some requested his portrait resulting in his commissioning of this engraving. He is found in his letters to have been a caring man who looked after his horses well and as Overseer of the Poor administered to their relief in the form of money, food and clothing. He was an acknowledged expert cultivator of auriculars and is shown in the print wearing these flowers in his buttonhole; the cold frame indicating his more general interest in flowers.
He married Elizabeth Finch with whom he had four children resulting in eight grand children. He died in 1783 and is buried in the grounds of the church at which he worshipped, St Mary Magdalene in Great Burstead.