Their Follies to eschew.”
1730-1780
The Master Printers of Williamsburg
1730-1780
1730-1750 William Parks. Printer and publisher in three English towns and in Annapolis before he opened the first printing office in Williamsburg in 1730; founded the Virginia Gazette in 1736; died in 1750.
1751-1761 William Hunter. Probably learned printing as an apprentice to Parks, whose foreman he became; bought the printing office from Parks’s estate in 1751; was jointly with Franklin deputy postmaster-general for the colonies from 1753 until his death in 1761.
1761-1766 Joseph Royle. Born in England; became Hunter’s foreman about 1758 and married Hunter’s sister; co-legatee, with Hunter’s minor son, of the printing business; died in 1766.
1766-1773 William Rind. Came from Maryland to Williamsburg in 1766 on the invitation of Jefferson and other “hot Burgesses” who thought Royle too submissive to the governor; established a rival Virginia Gazette and continued it until he died in 1773.
1766-1779 Alexander Purdie. Born and trained in Scotland; was foreman to Royle, whose will bequeathed him an interest in the business along with Royle’s minor son and William Hunter, Jr.; took John Dixon as partner, and himself stepped out when young Hunter came of age in 1774; established a new printing office and issued a third Virginia Gazette until his death in 1779.