William Bowyer (printer)

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William Bowyer (printer) (1699–1777) was an English printer and publisher known as “the learned printer.” He was born in London and studied at St John’s College, Cambridge. In 1722 he joined his father, William Bowyer, in the family printing business.

In 1729 Bowyer became printer for the votes of the British House of Commons, and in 1736 he was appointed printer to the Society of Antiquaries, of which he became a fellow in 1737. He also printed for the Society for the Encouragement of Learning. When his father died in 1737, Bowyer became the sole owner of the Bowyer press.

In 1759 he took on John Nichols as an apprentice, who would later become his biographer. Bowyer worked with the London bookseller Andrew Millar. In 1761 he became printer to the Royal Society, and in 1767 he printed the rolls of the House of Lords and the journals of the House of Commons. That same year he moved from Whitefriars to a larger house on Fleet Street. Bowyer died in Leyton in 1777, leaving several large works unfinished, including a reprint of the Domesday Book.

Works: Bowyer’s major achievement was a Greek edition of the New Testament with notes. Before this, he published editions of the Textus Receptus. He wrote many tracts and edited and published numerous books, including Schrevelius’s Greek-Latin lexicon.

Legacy: Bowyer left generous bequests to help indigent printers, administered by the Stationers’ Company, of which he became a liveryman in 1738. His portrait bust and a painting of his father were displayed in the company’s hall.