Luke Hansard
Encyclopedia
Luke Hansard was an English
printer, born in St Mary's parish, Norwich
, who gave his name to Hansard
, the record of Parliamentary debate, which he printed.
in Boston, Lincolnshire
, and was apprenticed to Stephen White, a Norwich printer.
in his pocket, and became a compositor in the office of John Hughs (1703-1771), printer to the British House of Commons
.
In 1774 he was made a partner, and undertook almost the entire conduct of the business, which in 1800 came completely into his hands. On the admission of his sons the firm became Luke Hansard & Sons, based on Parker Street, off Drury Lane..
Among those whose friendship Hansard won in the exercise of his profession were Robert Orme
, Burke
and Dr Johnson; while Porson
praised him as the most accurate printer of Greek
.
from 1774 till his death. The promptitude and accuracy with which Hansard printed parliamentary papers were often of the greatest service to government--notably on one occasion when the proof-sheets of the report of the Secret Committee on the French Revolution
were submitted to Pitt
twenty-four hours after the draft had left his hands.
On the union with Ireland in 1801, the increase of parliamentary printing compelled Hansard to give up all private printing except when parliament was not sitting. He devised numerous expedients for reducing the expense of publishing the reports; and in 1805, when his workmen struck at a time of great pressure, he and his sons themselves set to work as compositors.
His company became the Hansard Publishing Union. From 1809 his company, then run by his son, printed the parliamentary debates, and owned the publication from 1812, which became known as Hansard from 1829.
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England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
printer, born in St Mary's parish, Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
, who gave his name to Hansard
Hansard
Hansard is the name of the printed transcripts of parliamentary debates in the Westminster system of government. It is named after Thomas Curson Hansard, an early printer and publisher of these transcripts.-Origins:...
, the record of Parliamentary debate, which he printed.
Early life
He was the son of a Norwich manufacturer. He was educated at Boston Grammar SchoolBoston Grammar School
The Boston Grammar School is a selective grammar school and sixth form college for boys aged 11 to 18 and girls attending the sixth form aged 16–18 located in Boston, Lincolnshire, England....
in Boston, Lincolnshire
Boston, Lincolnshire
Boston is a town and small port in Lincolnshire, on the east coast of England. It is the largest town of the wider Borough of Boston local government district and had a total population of 55,750 at the 2001 census...
, and was apprenticed to Stephen White, a Norwich printer.
Career
As soon as his apprenticeship had expired Hansard started for London with only a guineaGuinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
in his pocket, and became a compositor in the office of John Hughs (1703-1771), printer to the British House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
.
In 1774 he was made a partner, and undertook almost the entire conduct of the business, which in 1800 came completely into his hands. On the admission of his sons the firm became Luke Hansard & Sons, based on Parker Street, off Drury Lane..
Among those whose friendship Hansard won in the exercise of his profession were Robert Orme
Robert Orme
Robert Orme , British historian, son of a British East India Company physician and surgeon, Dr. Alexander Orme, was born at Anjutheng, near Travancore on 25 December 1728, and after being educated at Harrow, entered the service of the British East India Company as a writer in Bengal in 1743...
, Burke
Edmund Burke
Edmund Burke PC was an Irish statesman, author, orator, political theorist and philosopher who, after moving to England, served for many years in the House of Commons of Great Britain as a member of the Whig party....
and Dr Johnson; while Porson
Richard Porson
Richard Porson was an English classical scholar. He was the discoverer of Porson's Law; and the Greek typeface Porson was based on his handwriting.-Early life:...
praised him as the most accurate printer of Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
.
Parliamentary records
He printed the Journals of the House of CommonsHansard
Hansard is the name of the printed transcripts of parliamentary debates in the Westminster system of government. It is named after Thomas Curson Hansard, an early printer and publisher of these transcripts.-Origins:...
from 1774 till his death. The promptitude and accuracy with which Hansard printed parliamentary papers were often of the greatest service to government--notably on one occasion when the proof-sheets of the report of the Secret Committee on the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
were submitted to Pitt
William Pitt the Younger
William Pitt the Younger was a British politician of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He became the youngest Prime Minister in 1783 at the age of 24 . He left office in 1801, but was Prime Minister again from 1804 until his death in 1806...
twenty-four hours after the draft had left his hands.
On the union with Ireland in 1801, the increase of parliamentary printing compelled Hansard to give up all private printing except when parliament was not sitting. He devised numerous expedients for reducing the expense of publishing the reports; and in 1805, when his workmen struck at a time of great pressure, he and his sons themselves set to work as compositors.
His company became the Hansard Publishing Union. From 1809 his company, then run by his son, printed the parliamentary debates, and owned the publication from 1812, which became known as Hansard from 1829.
Biography
- Evelyn Mansfield King, with J.C.Trewin, Printer to The House, London, 1952.
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