Robert Besley was an English typographer, creator of Clarendon (typeface)

Clarendon (typeface)

Clarendon is an English slab-serif typeface that was created in England by Robert Besley for Thorowgood and Co. , a type company formerly known as the Fann Street Foundry until approximately 1838. The font was published in 1845 after Besley, an employee of the foundry since 1826, was made a partner...

 in 1845 and the Lord Mayor of London

Lord Mayor of London

The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of London is the legal title for the Mayor of the City of London Corporation. The Lord Mayor of London is to be distinguished from the Mayor of London; the former is an officer only of the City of London, while the Mayor of London is the Mayor of Greater London and...

 in 1869.

Career

Besley joined the Fann Street Foundry in 1838. The Fann Street Foundry was also home of typographer William Thorowgood, creator of Grotesque.

When Besley created Clarendon

Clarendon (typeface)

Clarendon is an English slab-serif typeface that was created in England by Robert Besley for Thorowgood and Co. , a type company formerly known as the Fann Street Foundry until approximately 1838. The font was published in 1845 after Besley, an employee of the foundry since 1826, was made a partner...

 he had it patented, as England just passed a bill allowing that. The typeface became so popular, though, that the copyright was soon broken by people creating knock-offs. Still known as the first Registered typeface.
He then went on to become Sheriff of the City of London in 1863 and the Lord Mayor of London in 1869.

External links

• Image of Besley as Lord Mayor of London
• A political cartoon of Besley and fellow members of the Corporation of London
  Corporation of London
  The City of London Corporation is the municipal governing body of the City of London. It exercises control only over the City , and not over Greater London...