John Deval (1701–1774) was an 18th-century British sculptor and Master Mason, as was his namesake son (1728–1794). He was Chief Mason to the Crown and was the mason for the Tower of London and Royal Mews.
He was born in Eynsham in Oxfordshire, the son of George Deval who died shortly before his birth. In 1718 he was a "bound apprentice" to Joshua Fletcher of Woodstock, Oxfordshire. He became a Freeman in 1727 and went to work for Andrew Jelfe in London.
Around 1750 he became Master Mason to the King and in 1760 he became Master of the Worshipful Company of Masons in London, the highest position a mason could reach.
He died in 1774 and was buried at Isleworth.[1]
Born in 1728 he trained under his father and became Master Mason to the King in 1774 and in 1784 followed in his shoes as being made Master of the Worshipful Company of Masons.[1]
. Dictionary of British Sculptors 1660–1851 . Rupert Forbes Gunnis . Yale University Press . 2009 .