The Early Life of William Caxton
William Caxton was born in Kent sometime in the early part of the fifteenth century (probably between 1415 – 1422). During his teens, he was sent to London to study as a merchant. Soon, William Caxton became a successful wool merchant and moved to Bruges, the center of the wool trade at that time. Such was his standing in the community that he was appointed the Governor of the "English Nation of Merchant Adventurers". In this position he served as a representative of English trade merchants and as a diplomat for the English King, Edward IV. He would also become a member of the household of Margaret, Duchess of Burgundy, the sister of Edward IV. Margaret became an important patron and influence in William Caxton’s life, encouraging him in his passion for translating texts from French into English.
William Caxton, the Translator and the Printer
In 1471, William Caxton travelled to Cologne in order to learn about the new craft of printing. It is likely that he studied under the famous printer Johann Veldener. Having learned the intricacies of the printing press and purchased a set of types, Caxton returned to Bruges and printed his first book Recuyell of the Historyes of Troye. It was a book that Caxton had translated himself from French to English, and more importantly, it was the first book ever to be printed in English.
William Caxton, the First English Printer
After printing two more English texts in France, William Caxton returned to his native land and set up a printing press near Westminster Abbey. In 1447, he produced the first printed book in England, Sayings of the Philosophers. Over the next fourteen years, William Caxton’s press would produce over one hundred books, among them, The Canterbury Tales and La Morte d’Arthur. William Caxton died in 1491 or 1492. Although his books were praised for their beauty and careful editing, there were those who opposed the idea of printed books. There were some in the upper classes that feared that the easy dissemination of information would allow the poor to realize the dreadful circumstances they lived in and rise up.
William Caxton’s Legacy
Today, William Caxton is remembered as one of, if not THE, most important figure in the history of English book printing. The books he printed are much sought after by collectors and tend to command very high prices when sold at auction.
Primary Information for this article obtained from “Discovering Book Collecting” by John Childley, Shire Classics, 2008.
