William Huggins was an English artist, from Liverpool, who specialized in drawing animals. He enjoyed visiting Wombwell's Travelling Menagerie, an animal circus, and the Liverpool Zoological Gardens. Huggins has been compared to fellow Liverpool artist George Stubbs, and is known for keeping his house full of pets.

William Huggins was born in Liverpool. He received his first instruction in drawing at the Liverpool Mechanics' Institution. He won a prize for Adam's Vision of the Death of Abel and successfully entered work to be shown at the Liverpool Academy of Arts whilst fifteen years old.

He drew from life using the classes at the Academy of Arts or by sketching the animals in Liverpool's zoo. He travelled further afi...