Walter H. (Walter Hawken) Tregellas

Born in Truro on July 10, 1831, Walter Hawken Tregellas grew up in a family already connected with Cornish writing and local life. He was educated in Cornwall, showed artistic talent from a young age, and won prizes for drawing before building a career that combined visual skill with historical and biographical writing.

Tregellas worked as a professional draughtsman, including service connected with the War Office, while also publishing books on Cornwall and other historical subjects. His best-known work is Cornish Worthies, a lively set of sketches about notable Cornish people and families, and he also wrote guidebooks and historical studies that helped record the region's identity for later readers.

He died on May 28, 1894. Today he remains a useful and engaging voice for anyone interested in Cornwall, especially readers who enjoy older nonfiction that brings local history and character to life.