John Wilkes (printer)
John Wilkes | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1750 Winchester, England |
| Died | 1810-03-31 |
| Occupation(s) | Printer, bookseller, stationer |
| Years active | 1790–1810 |
| Known for | Owner of Hampshire Chronicle; manager of British Directory Office; editor of Encyclopaedia Londinensis |
John Wilkes (1750 – March 31, 1810) was a notable English printer, bookseller, and stationer.
Life
A Freeman of Winchester, Wilkes owned the Hampshire Chronicle. Together with Peter Barfoot, he managed the British Directory Office in London, producing the Universal British Directory from 1790 until 1798 under a royal patent.
He was responsible for compiling and editing the Encyclopaedia Londinensis; or, universal dictionary of arts, sciences, and literature, which was released in 24 volumes between 1801 and 1828. This collection included three volumes dedicated to copperplate engravings. Certain comprehensive articles, such as Horology (1811), were issued separately. For the thirteenth volume, Wilkes commissioned engraver John Pass from Pentonville.
Wilkes possessed Milland House in Milland, West Sussex, a secluded and traditionally styled country residence featuring amenities like a brewery and bakery. Originally constructed by Peter Bettesworth in 1584, the house was lost to a fire in 1901. Its interior showcased Jacobean oak staircases and wood paneling.