Ann Ward (1715/16 – 10 April 1789) was a British printer and business owner.

Biography

Little is known about Ann's early life, save that she married a York printer, Caesar Ward, in 1738. Caesar, and his brother-in-law Richard Chandler bought the '' York Courant'' newspaper. Chandler committed suicide in 1744 and Caesar Ward was declared bankrupt in 1744. When Caesar died in 1759, the paper passed to Ann Ward and she continued to run it until her death in 1789. in York, the Wards owned a book shop above the Black Swan pub in

Coney Street Coney Street is a major shopping street in the city centre of York, in England. The street runs north-west from the junction of Spurriergate and Market Street, to St Helen's Square. New Street leads off the north-east side of the street, as ...

and the printers was based off Coney Street in a former ''

bagnio Bagnio is a loan word into several languages (from it, bagno). In English, French, and so on, it has developed varying meanings: typically a brothel, bath-house, or prison for slaves. In reference to the Ottoman Empire The origin of this sense ...

'' in Leopard's Yard. Ann Ward worked with the printer David Russell, who became a part-owner of the business but his name did not appear on publications. Ann bought back Russel's share in the company in 1787 so she could pass the whole business to her son-in-law George Peacock. As a printer, Ann is best known for her role in the publication of the first edition of

Laurence Sterne Laurence Sterne (24 November 1713 – 18 March 1768), was an Anglo-Irish novelist and Anglican cleric who wrote the novels ''The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman'' and ''A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy'', published ...

's ''

The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman ''The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman'', also known as ''Tristram Shandy'', is a novel by Laurence Sterne, inspired by ''Don Quixote''. It was published in nine volumes, the first two appearing in 1759, and seven others followin ...

'' in 1760. Sterne had originally approached

Robert Dodsley Robert Dodsley (13 February 1703 – 23 September 1764) was an English bookseller, publisher, poet, playwright, and miscellaneous writer. Life Dodsley was born near Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, where his father was master of the free school. He ...

in London to print the book, but after a disagreement he took it to Ward in York. "The Book shall be printed here", Sterne wrote to Dodsley in October 1759. Ward also printed other important publications. The first guide book to the city of York was printed by Ward in 1787. It was a 32-page volume detailing York's public buildings and a directory of principal merchants and tradespeople in the city. Ward also issued a two volume history of

York Minster The Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of Saint Peter in York, commonly known as York Minster, is the cathedral of York, North Yorkshire, England, and is one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe. The minster is the seat of the Archbis ...

detailing the site and its clergy based on the 1737 ''Eboracum'' by

Francis Drake Sir Francis Drake ( – 28 January 1596) was an English explorer, sea captain, privateer, slave trader, naval officer, and politician. Drake is best known for his circumnavigation of the world in a single expedition, from 1577 to 1580 (t ...

. In 1779 Ward published a book of poems by

William Mason William, Willie, or Willy Mason may refer to: Arts and entertainment *William Mason (poet) (1724–1797), English poet, editor and gardener *William Mason (architect) (1810–1897), New Zealand architect *William Mason (composer) (1829–1908), Ame ...

. An 18th-century

short-title catalogue A short-title catalogue (or catalog) is a bibliographical resource that lists printed items in an abbreviated fashion, recording the most important words of their titles. The term is commonly encountered in the context of early modern books, which ...

records almost a hundred titles printed by Ann Ward.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ward, Ann 1710s births 1789 deaths People from York Women printers British printers 18th-century English businesswomen