Thomas Witherby (1719 – 26 November 1797) was the founder of Witherby's, now known as the

Witherby Publishing Group Witherby Publishing Group, formerly known as Witherby Seamanship, is a technical publisher of maritime, nautical and navigation training, reference and regulatory materials. The company is the resulting merger of Witherby Books and Seamansh ...

, one of the oldest publishing companies in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

. In 1740, he opened a stationer's shop at 9 Birchin Lane,

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 ...

next door to the Sword Blade coffee house. The family business grew into a printing business, a publisher specializing in marine subjects, a bookshop and other businesses. In 1767 he was elected to the Council of the

City of London Corporation The City of London Corporation, officially and legally the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London, is the municipal governing body of the City of London, the historic centre of London and the location of much of the United King ...

representing Langbourn Ward.

References

1719 births 1797 deaths English magazine editors English book publishers (people) {{UK-business-bio-stub