Thomas Ruddiman was born near Banff in 1674, son of a farmer, and was educated at the local grammar school and at Aberdeen University. After a period as a private tutor, and as the schoolmaster at Laurencekirk, he moved to Edinburgh in 1700 to become the assistant librarian at the Faculty of Advocates. He was […]
OTD 15 January 1826
15 January 2025 by
James Ballantyne founded his printing firm in Kelso in 1796. Archibald Constable, Scott’s publisher, commissioned Ballantyne to print his Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border, which led to the firm’s move to Edinburgh in 1802. After setting up near Holyrood, they moved to Foulis Close in the Canongate before settling in Paul’s Work, north back of […]
OTD 28 December 1804
28 December 2024 by
On 28 December 1804 Alexander Keith Johnston, of the Edinburgh map-printing firm, W & A K Johnston, was born.
OTD 27 December 1638
27 December 2024 by
George Anderson, the first printer in the city, was admitted as Burgess and Guild Brother in Glasgow on 27 December 1638.
OTD 19 December 1904
19 December 2024 by
On 19 December 1904 the Scotsman and the Edinburgh Evening Dispatch moved from Cockburn Street to newly built premises on North Bridge, now the Scotsman Hotel.
OTD 11 December 1862
11 December 2024 by
Edward Clark, son of Robert Clark of the Edinburgh printing firm R & R Clark, was born on 11 December 1862. On his death in 1926, he left funds to support the teaching of printing in Edinburgh, including funding a collection of books for the use of the students. The Edward Clark Collection is in […]
OTD 7 December 1749
7 December 2024 by
Patrick Neill founded the company which was to become Neill & Co on 7 December 1749 in Edinburgh. It occupied premises in Old Fishmarket Close off the High Street for many years.
OTD 6 December 1752
6 December 2024 by
The Edinburgh stationery and printing firm of George Waterston & Sons was established on 6 December 1752. Originally sealing wax manufacturers, the company soon moved into stationery production .
OTD 23 November 1712
23 November 2024 by
Andrew Foulis was born on 23 November 1712. With his brother Robert, he founded the Foulis Press, printer to the University of Glasgow. The Foulis Press was known for the high quality of the books it produced.
OTD 20 November 1809
20 November 2024 by
On 20 November 1809 John Blackie established the printing firm in Glasgow which was known later as Blackie & Son.
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