1422-1491. First English printer. He learned
the art of printing in Cologne, Germany 1471
and set up a press in Belgium, where he
produced the first book printed in English,
his own version of a French romance, Recuyell
of the Historyes of Troye 1474. Returning to
England in 1476 he established himself in
London, where he produced the first book
printed in England, Dictes or Sayengis of the
Philosophres 1477. Born in Kent, Caxton was
apprenticed to a London cloth dealer 1438,
and set up his own business in Bruges
1441-70; he became governor of the English
merchants there, negotiating on their behalf
with the dukes of Burgundy. In 1471 he went
to Cologne, where he learned the art of
printing, and then set up his own press in
Bruges in partnership with Colard Mansion, a
calligrapher. The books from Caxton's press
in Westminster included editions of the poets
Chaucer, Gower, and John Lydgate (c.
1370-1449). He translated many texts from
French and Latin and revised some English
ones, such as Malory's Morte d'Arthur.
Altogether he printed about 100 books. A
typeface is named for him.