Gilbert Thomas Webster was born in Staffordshire on 17 July 1886. He was educated at the Royal Wolverhampton School. He was a self-taught artist, and began his career from 1904 by winning newspaper drawing prizes. His humorous entries were published by the Birmingham Weekly Post, Manchester Evening Chronicle and Athletic News.
In 1912, he was appointed as Political Cartoonist for the Daily Citizen, while also contributing to the Daily News and The Star before the outbreak of the First World War. He then joined the army and was with the Royal Fusiliers at the Battle of the Somme in 1916.
He was discharged the following year after a neck injury. After the war, he returned to drawing freelance. He was soon hired by the Evening News and then in 1919, the Daily Mail, where he would stay until 1940.
Tom Webster began to publish his newspaper cartoons in annuals. The first edition in 1920 sold 70,000 copies, and they continued each year until 1960. It was reported that, for many years, he was the highest paid cartoonist in the world. (The Bystander, February 1934)
Tom Webster specialised in sports cartoons; particularly golf, cricket and horseracing. He was also a popular caricaturist of politicians, and became known for his politically Conservative stance. On the evening of the General Election in 1929, a selection of his cartoons were projected in Trafalgar Square for the public awaiting the results.
In 1929, he was married to Mae Flynn in New York by the Mayor of the city. It was covered by the New York Times, and they honeymooned in Hollywood. However, the marriage was short and they divorced four years later, with Mae Flynn citing Tom Webster’s subsequent adultery. In 1935, he married an American showgirl, Ida Michael. They had three children together; two daughters and a son.
On the outbreak of the Second World War, he left the Daily Mail and travelled to Belgium and France. There he performed with a band as a comedian and cartoonist in Europe, whilst also working as a war correspondent for various newspapers.
Tom Webster died at home in Highgate, London on 21 June 1962.
