William Lane (bookseller)
William Lane | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1746 England |
| Died | 1814 |
| Occupation(s) | Bookseller, publisher |
| Known for | Founder of Minerva Press |
William Lane (1746 – 1814) was a prominent English bookseller and publisher based in London, renowned for establishing the highly prosperous Minerva Press.
Career
In approximately 1790, Lane founded the Minerva Printing Press on Cree Church Lane near Leadenhall Street, later moving operations by 1792 to number 31 Leadenhall Street. The Minerva Press was responsible for publishing works from writers such as Courtney Melmoth. Lane also launched a Circulating Library around 1774, which attracted distinguished patrons including Leigh Hunt. His main rivals in the circulating library market included John Booth, Carpenter, Cawthorn, Cheesewright, Creighton, Thomas Dangerfield, Dutton, William Earle, Thomas Hookham, David Ogilvy, Parson, Tegg, and Thomas Vernor. By about 1799, John Darling and Anthony King Newman became partners under the name "Lane, Darling, Newman & Co." Lane stepped down in 1804, leaving Newman to manage the company.