Britain Unlimited covers 250 Great British people and what made them famous

Who was John Baskerville? Master Printer. Date and Place of Birth: 28th January 1706, Sion Hill, Wolverley, Worcestershire, England. Family Background: Unknown but probably of yeoman stock. Education: Unknown but probably local schools. Chronology: 1723: Originally he worked as a footman but by the age of seventeen he had become a writing master and engraver of headstones for graves. 1738: Started a successful japanning (varnishing) business in Birmingham which over the next ten years made him a wealthy businessman. 1750: Began to experiment with papermaking, type founding, printing and the manufacture of printer's inks. One of his typefaces bears his name. 1754: Produced his first new typeface with the help of his assistant cutter John Handy. 1757: Published his first printed work, an edition of Virgil. He went on to produce many more volumes of the classics such as those by Milton and an edition of the Bible. Baskerville Monument, Centenary Square, Birmingham 1758: Became printer to Cambridge University. Marriage: 1764 to Sarah Eaves. Places of Interest: BIRMINGHAM: A memorial to him, forming the word Virgil in single large letters of his typeface, has been set up in Centenary Square outside Baskerville House. Date and Place of Death: 8th January 1775, Birmingham, England. Age at Death: 69. Site of Grave: Originally buried standing up (as he was an atheist) in his own garden inside a conical mausoleum. This land was cut through by the major canal building in the area and In 1820 his body was dug up and used at a local peepshow. It was finally transferred to land adjoining the Cradley Chapel, Birmingham, England. _______________________________________________________________________ Upon entering the printer ink market keep in mind that printer ink recycling is common nowadays. You should also invest in an EnergyStar compliant printer when you go out to buy a printing device. Save yourself energy money and order printer ink online today.