William Caxton: 1422-1492

• William Caxton was best know for introducing the printing press to England.

• He moved to Bruges, Belgium and worked for 30 years as a merchant he was so successful that he became govenor  of a group of merchants.

• The printing press was invented by Johannes Gutenberg in 1436, this changed the way that books were produced as they could now be printed and not hand written.

• Caxton was intrigued by the printing press, and decided to set up his own printing press in Bruges to print books in English for wealthy people. The first book printed was History of Troy.

• In 1476 he returned to London and set up the first printing press in England.

• He printed many books about philosophy, history, romance & an encyclopedia. He would also print books on request.

• William Caxton was buried in St Margaret's Church, in the grounds of Westminster Abbey, London.