Elizabeth Caslon, born Elizabeth Cartlich (31 July 1730 – 3 March 1795), was a

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

typefounder. She ran the family's

Caslon foundry The Caslon type foundry was a type foundry in London which cast and sold metal type. It was founded by the punchcutter and typefounder William Caslon I, probably in 1720. For most of its history it was based at Chiswell Street, Islington, was t ...

with her husband and when he died she carried it on as Elizabeth Caslon and sons. After her death, the business was auctioned and it was bought by her business partner and her former daughter in law who was another "Elizabeth Caslon".

Life

Caslon was born in

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

as Elizabeth Cartlich in 1730. Her mother was also called Elizabeth and her father was William Cartlich. She married William Caslon (II) on 25 July 1751, he was the son of another

William Caslon William Caslon I (1692/1693 – 23 January 1766), also known as William Caslon the Elder,Oxford Dictionary of National Biography was an English typefounder. The distinction and legibility of his type secured him the patronage of the leading ...

(I). Both of these Williams ran a type founding business. She and her husband had a son in 1754 called William Caslon (III) and the following year another son named Henry Caslon. Her father in law, William Caslon (I), died in 1766. Elizabeth was involved in running the business with her husband. They supplied

Caslon Caslon is the name given to serif typefaces designed by William Caslon I (c. 1692–1766) in London, or inspired by his work. Caslon worked as an engraver of punches, the masters used to stamp the moulds or matrices used to cast metal ty ...

type to the American colonies. When the American Declaration of Independence was first printed in 1776 - it was with a Caslon type. When her husband died on 17 August 1788 without a will, his property was shared between herself and their two sons William Caslon III and Henry Caslon. She took over the business and carried it on as ''Elizabeth Caslon and sons''. Caslon was noted for its typefaces. Her son Henry (I) married another Elizabeth and they had a son named Henry (II) in 1786. Henry (I) died in 1788 and his share went to his widow. Elizabeth Caslon was in business with Elizabeth Caslon (her daughter in law) and her son William Caslon until 1792 when she and William had a disagreement. William sold up and bought another factory.

Death and legacy

Caslon died in London in 1795. Her will caused confusion and went to the courts of chancery. The courts ruled that the business should be put up for auction and her daughter in law Elizabeth Caslon bought it. She had remarried and her new name was Strong but she continued to use the Caslon name while she was in business. Caslon's likeness was captured by

Charles Catton Charles Catton RA (1728 in Norwich – 28 August 1798, in London), sometimes referred to as Charles Catton the elder, was a notable English coach painter, landscape, animal and figure painter of the late 18th century, and one of the founder me ...

and a stipple engraving of this by William Satchwell Leney. A copy of this is in the National Portrait Gallery in London.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Caslon, Elizabeth 1730 births 1795 deaths People from London British typographers and type designers 18th-century British businesswomen