Andro Hart (died December 1621), or Andrew Hart, was a Scottish printer, publisher, and bookseller in

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...

Biography

Hart occupied a shop on the north side of the

High Street High Street is a common street name for the primary business street of a city, town, or village, especially in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth. It implies that it is the focal point for business, especially shopping. It is also a metonym fo ...

, opposite the mercat cross at the head of Craig's Close.Grant's Old and New Edinburgh vol.2 p.229 It is described in his will as 'the heich within his foir tenement of land upon the north syd of the Hie Streit.' The site was subsequently occupied by the shops of

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and

Archibald Constable Archibald David Constable (24 February 1774 – 21 July 1827) was a Scottish publisher, bookseller and stationer. Life Constable was born at Carnbee, Fife, son of the land steward to the Earl of Kellie. In 1788 Archibald was apprenticed to Pe ...

. Hart's printing-house was further down the close on the same side of the street. Hart was the principal printer, publisher, and bookseller of his time in Edinburgh. He published the works of

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and of

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, by both of whom he was much respected. On 9 November 1618, Drayton the poet stated in a letter to Drummond that he was seeking to arrange with Hart for the publication of the last part of his '

Poly-Olbion The ''Poly-Olbion'' is a topographical poem describing England and Wales. Written by Michael Drayton (1563–1631) and published in 1612, it was reprinted with a second part in 1622. Drayton had been working on the project since at least 1598. ...

.' Drummond was earnest with Hart 'in that particular', but the negotiation came to nothing. Hart brought out an admirable edition of the Bible in 1610 and also an edition of Barbour's '

Bruce The English language name Bruce arrived in Scotland with the Normans, from the place name Brix, Manche in Normandy, France, meaning "the willowlands". Initially promulgated via the descendants of king Robert the Bruce (1274−1329), it has been a ...

.' He imported a large number of books from abroad. In a petition to the privy council on 10 February 1589–90, he and John Norton, an Englishman, state that for about two years they had imported books from 'Almanie and

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,' with the result that Edinburgh was better supplied with books than ever before, and as 'gude-chaip as they are to be sold in London or any other part of England.' Their complaint led the council to abandon a projected new duty on imported books. In 1596, Hart was, on the accusation of a debtor, apprehended as one of the leaders of the tumult in the streets of Edinburgh on 17 December, and on the 23rd Hart was committed to ward but was probably liberated soon afterwards. In October 1599, one Edward Cathkyn became surety for Hart, who is described as 'liberar, burges of Edinburgh,' in a suit with John Gibson, 'buik binder'. He died in December 1621. He first married Janet Micklehill and second married Janet Kene, who died on 3 May 1642. By his first wife, he had a son Samuel, and by his second two sons, John and Andrew. There were also several daughters. In his will, he enjoined ''. An autograph of Hart is noticed in 'Notes and Queries'.

References

External links

Account of Andro Hart
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hart, Andro Year of birth unknown 1621 deaths 17th-century Scottish people Scottish booksellers Scottish printers