For other uses with the name Thackeray, see Thackeray (disambiguation). William Makepeace Thackeray ( ; 18 July 1811 – 24 December 1863) was an English novelist, author and illustrator, who was born in India. Title-page to Vanity Fair, drawn by Thackeray, who furnished the illustrations for many of his own booksThackeray is probably best known now for Vanity Fair. Richmond's father's name was also William Makepeace Thackeray. [19] There is a fine miniature portrait of Anne Becher Thackeray and William Makepeace Thackeray, aged about two, done in Madras by George Chinnery c.