Jean Baptiste Bourguignon d'Anville (1697 - 1782)
D'Anville was a French cartographer of great repute. Following the death of De Lisle, D'Anville continued the line of progressive French cartographers which had begun with Nicolas Sanson in the previous century. A child prodigy, he is said to have designed his first map at the age of fifteen and in his long distinguished career he produced a large number of elegantly engraved maps, noted for their scholarship and accuracy. Having exacting standards soon brought him international recognition as the finest cartographer of his time.
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James Whittle (1757 - 1818)
Whittle worked for Robert Sayer and became his junior partner, with Robert Laurie, as Sayer & Co, in 1790 subsequently becoming the successor in partnership with Laurie.
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Robert Laurie (1755 - 1836)
Born in London son of Robert and Ann Lowry (he sometimes used this name early in his career). In 1770 the Society of Arts awarded him a silver platter for a drawing, and in 1775 and 1776 premiums of five and ten guineas for patterns for calico printing. In 1776 he was given an award of thirty guineas for disclosing a new method of printing mezzo tints in colour. He worked independently for a few years before returning to work with Robert Sayer. In 1794 he took over the business, acquiring the entire stock for £5,000, in partnership with James Whittle.
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Robert Sayer (1725 - 1794)
Print and map seller, born in Sutherland, the son of James Sayer (1695-1736) of Stockton, a lawyer, and his wife, Thomasine Middleton. In January 1747, his elder brother James married Mary Overton, widow and successor of Phillip Overton. After a period of working with her, Robert Sayer had taken over the business by late December 1748. He married Dorothy Carless, "an agreeable young lady with a handsome fortune", on 16 July 1754 at Datchworth, Hertfordshire. When Thomas Jeffery's went bankrupt in 1766, Sayer was plainly among those who who helped him remain in business, Sayer acquiring in return both printing plates and unpublished manuscript material. He acquire more from the Jeffery's estate, which he used to great benefit during the American Revolutionary War. He worked in partnership as "Sayer & Bennett" with his former apprentice, John Bennett, from 1774 to about 1782. He traded as "Robert Sayer & Co." 1790-1794, with his employees Robert Laurie and James Whittle, who succeeded him on his death.
1748-1766 At the Golden Buck, opposite Fetter Lane, Fleet Street
1767-1794 53 Fleet Street
1776-1794 Richmond Hill (home)
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