On this day, May 2, 1856, Reginald Bathurst Birch was born London, England. His family emigrated to San Francisco in 1870 and Birch became a naturalized American citizen. Between 1873 and 1881 Birch studied and worked in Europe. Upon his return Birch settled in New York and began working as an illustrator. In 1886 he created the illustrations for Frances Hodgson Burnett’s story, Little Lord Fauntleroy.