Andrew Foulis facts for kids

Andrew Foulis (born 1712, died 1775) was a famous Scottish printer. He worked closely with his brother, Robert Foulis. Together, they were the official printers for the University of Glasgow. They published many important books, especially in Latin and Greek.

Early Life and Education

Andrew Foulis was born in Glasgow. His father, Andrew Faulls (or Faulds), was a barber and a brewer. Andrew was originally meant to study for the church. This meant he received a good education.

His brother Robert, however, was expected to follow their father's trade. But Robert still attended classes at the University of Glasgow. He learned a lot from Francis Hutcheson, a well-known professor. In the 1730s, both brothers changed their last name from Faulls to Foulis.

Starting the Printing Business

Robert Foulis was very passionate about books and learning. Professor Francis Hutcheson encouraged him to get into selling and printing books. Robert first started a bookshop in Glasgow in 1741. This was ten years before any other major bookshop opened there.

Andrew joined Robert in their business venture. They traveled together in 1738 and 1739. In Paris, they found amazing books. They bought these books, brought them back to England, and sold them for a good profit. This was the start of their successful partnership. Their printing business would last for over 30 years.

Andrew Foulis had studied Latin at the University of Glasgow. He later taught Latin, Greek, and French in Glasgow. While in Paris, the brothers met a Scottish writer named Andrew Michael Ramsay. He helped them find rare and valuable books in famous Parisian libraries. These books helped launch their successful book-dealing business.

The Foulis Press at Glasgow University

At first, the Foulis brothers had to pay other printers to print their books. But within a year, they bought their own printing press. This meant they could do all their printing themselves. Soon after, their printing and bookshop became the official printer for the University of Glasgow.

Their books became very well-known for their high quality. They mostly printed classic books and important literary works. They wanted to share the ideas of the Scottish Enlightenment. This was a time when many new ideas about knowledge and morality were developing in Scotland.

Unique Printing Style

The Foulis Press had a special printing style. They worked with Alexander Wilson, who designed unique typefaces (the styles of letters used in printing). Wilson's typefaces made the Foulis books look beautiful and sophisticated. One of his most famous designs was called Scotch Roman.

In 1748, Alexander Wilson became the University of Glasgow's official type founder. He moved his workshop there. His designs helped the Foulis brothers' books stand out.

Famous Publications

Andrew and Robert Foulis were very important in the Glasgow book trade. Their most famous achievement was printing the classic works of Homer: "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey". These were published between 1756 and 1758.

People praised their famous prints and editions. They were even called "the Elzevirs of Britain." The Elzevirs were a famous Dutch family who printed and sold books in the 1600s and 1700s. This comparison showed how respected the Foulis brothers were.

Besides grand editions, they also printed simpler, more practical books. These included works by their mentor, Francis Hutcheson. They wanted to make knowledge available to many people. They imported rare books and bought promising manuscripts from Europe. They sold these to local scholars and collectors.

Their books were known for being well-edited, simple, and practical in size. They printed 554 works in total. These included books by famous writers like Horace, Homer, Milton, and Thomas Gray. Even though their printing style changed over time, it was still a great achievement for their era.

Later Life and Legacy

Andrew Foulis and his brother Robert were not just publishers. They were also big fans of the works they printed. The famous writer Samuel Johnson once visited Glasgow. He was welcomed by the Foulis brothers as an honored guest.

Andrew Foulis is buried with his brother Robert in the Ramshorn Cemetery in Glasgow. Their graves are now under the pavement due to street widening. However, their initials are still marked in the paving stones.