Andrew Strahan

Andrew Strahan (1749–1831) was an MP and printer who served as the King's Printer.

Biography

Andrew Strahan was the youngest son of William Strahan (1715–1785), and carried on his father's business with success, becoming one of the joint patentees, with John Reeves and George Eyre as the King's Printer. He retired in 1819. Between 1796 and 1820 he sat in Parliament successively for Newport, Wareham, Carlow, Aldeburgh, and New Romney.

Strahan was a close friend of the inventor John Dickinson (1782–1869) and his family. He recommended the young John Dickinson as an apprentice to the stationer Thomas Harrison in London and supported him financially on several occasions, amongst others to establish himself as a paper trader in 1805 and to set up a paper producing company in 1809, which later evolved into the leading paper and stationery company John Dickinson & Co. Ltd.[1]

Strahan died on 25 August 1831 leaving an enormous fortune. In his will he bequeathed £1,000 to the Royal Literary Fund, and £1,225 to the Stationers' Company but Strahan also remembered all the Dickinson family, among them John Dickinson, who received £4,000.[2]

References

  1. ^ Joan Evans (great niece of John Dickinson): „The Endless Web - John Dickinson & Co. Ltd 1804-1954“, pp. 2-4 and 13, Jonathan Cape, London 1955
  2. ^ Joan Evans (great niece of John Dickinson): „The Endless Web - John Dickinson & Co. Ltd 1804-1954“, p. 54, Jonathan Cape, London 1955

Sources

  • Cochrane, J. A., Dr Johnson's Printer : The Life of William Strahan, 1964
Attribution

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Strahan, William". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.

Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Newport (Isle of Wight)
1796–1800
With: William Hamilton Nisbet 1796–1800
Sir George Dallas 1800 		Succeeded by
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Parliament of Great Britain
 Member of Parliament for Newport (Isle of Wight)
1801–1802
With: Sir George Dallas 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Wareham
1802–1807
With: John Calcraft 1802–1806
Jonathan Raine 1806–1807 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Carlow
1807–1812 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Aldeburgh
1812–1818
With: The Lord Dufferin and Claneboye 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for New Romney
1818–1820
With: Richard Erle-Drax-Grosvenor 1818–1819
Richard Erle-Drax-Grosvenor 1819–1820 		Succeeded by