William Alexander (1767–1816) served as a draughtsman to Macartney’s Embassy in 1793. He produced over a thousand drawings, sketches and engravings. A selection of these were published in two books, The Costume of China and Dress and Manners of the Chinese.  These works cover not only the general appearance of the various ethnic groups within China, but also include detailed images of Chinese ships and urban landscapes, providing an interesting insight into late-eighteenth century perceptions of China and its population. Alexander was later appointed the first Superintendent of Prints and Drawings at the British Museum.