William Morris

Morris, William (1834–96), English artist, poet, and designer. One of the Pre-Raphaelites, he sought to counteract the effects of industrialization by a return to the aesthetic standards and craftsmanship of the Middle Ages. In 1861 he set up Morris and Co. to design and make wallpaper, furniture, carpets, and stained glass. Influenced by John Ruskin, he formed the Socialist League (1884). His founding of the Kelmscott Press (1890) had a primary impact on typographical and book design.