Caslon, William , (1692-1766) was a British type-face designer. Caslon’s original old-style type faces were in fashion until the mid-1800’s and remained a powerful influence on most later British type designers. Type faces based on his designs are still used today.
Caslon was born in Cradley, Worcestershire, England. In 1716, he set up a shop in London for making tools and engraving silver decorations on guns. Later, he began designing and casting type. From 1722 to 1742, Caslon produced many new type faces. Caslon died in London on Jan. 23, 1766. His son William, his daughter-in-law, and his two grandsons later expanded the business. After a number of mergers, Caslon’s company became Stephenson, Blake & Co. in 1837 and continued to make type until the early 2000’s.
