William Foy was born in County Londonderry and was a pupil of the Rev. James Knox, headmaster of the New Free School (later Foyle College). He trained as an artist in the Dublin Society School. He appears to have had a thriving business painting portraits, and his work was included in principal exhibitions in London from 1828 to 1861. He returned to Dublin and exhibited regularly at the Royal Hibernian Academy from 1836 until 1859. In 1861 he had an exhibition in the British Institution in London. A head and shoulders portrait of Knox by Foy is in the Foyle and Londonderry College.

Born:	1791
Died:	c.1861