Born: 1692
Birthplace: Cradley, Worcestershire, England
Died: 23-Jan-1766
Location of death: London, England
Cause of death: unspecified

Gender: Male
Race or Ethnicity: White
Occupation: Typographer

Nationality: England
Executive summary: English type designer

William Caslon, the first of a family of English type founders, was born at Cradley, Worcestershire in 1692, and in 1716 started business in London as an engraver of gun locks and barrels, and as a bookbinder's tool-cutter. Being thus brought into contact with printers,he was induced to fit up a type foundry, largely through the encouragement of printer William Bowyer. The distinction and legibility of his type secured him the patronage of the leading printers of the day in England and on the continent. The use of Caslon types, discontinued about the beginning of the 19th century, was revived about 1845 at the suggestion of Sir Henry Cole, and used for printing the Diary of Lady Willoughby (a pseudo 17th century story) by the Chiswick Press. The head line on this page is "Caslon Old Face." He died on the 23rd of January 1766. His son, William Caslon (1720-1778), who had been partner with his father for some years, continued the business. The original printing of the American Declaration of Independence was set with Caslon type, and derivatives of these typefaces continue to be used as computer fonts.

Son: William Caslon (b. 1720, d. 1778)

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