Alexander Francis Lydon (1836–1917) was a British watercolour artist, illustrator, and engraver renowned for his detailed depictions of natural history and landscapes. Born in Dublin, Ireland, to Patrick Lydon, a Chelsea Pensioner, and Elizabeth Gwillym, he spent his early years in Great Driffield, England. Lydon apprenticed under printer Benjamin Fawcett at a young age, mastering techniques like chromolithography and wood engraving. He became Fawcett’s principal artist, collaborating extensively with Rev. Francis Orpen Morris on works such as A History of British Birds. Known for his perfectionism, Lydon’s vibrant, precise illustrations graced numerous books, including studies of birds, fish, plants, and British stately homes. In 1859, he married Catherine Fitzgerald, with whom he had seven children, two of whom became engravers.