Merchant, underwriter, and printer. Founder of The Times of London, which he began printing in 1785 as the Daily Universal Register.

A proponent of (and bought the patents to) the “logographic” method of printing, in which fonts were composed not of individual letters, but of complete words.

Sought Franklin’s endorsement of this method of printing, and Franklin responded favorably, going so far as to become a subscriber to a series of books printed by the logographic method.

The printing innovation eventually proved unsuccessful.

Born in London. Married in 1759 to Frances Landon; at least six children.