Henry Bynneman facts for kids

Henry Bynneman was an important English printer who lived in the 1500s. He helped create many books during a time when printing was still quite new. He was known for his skill and for printing some very important works.

A Printer's Journey

Henry Bynneman started his printing career around 1566. Before that, he was an apprentice, which means he learned the trade from an experienced printer named Richard Harrison. When Harrison passed away, Henry likely finished his training with another printer, Reyner Wolfe.

Working with Important People

Henry Bynneman was lucky to get support from powerful people. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Matthew Parker, was a big supporter of his work. This support helped Henry get important printing jobs.

Later, with help from Robert Dudley and Sir Christopher Hatton, Henry received a special permission in 1580. This permission, called a "privilege," allowed him to print "all dictionaries in all tongues, all chronicles and histories whatsoever." This was a huge deal, as it gave him the exclusive right to print these types of books.

Famous Books and Bibles

Henry Bynneman printed many different kinds of books. He is well-known for printing parts of Holinshed's Chronicles in 1577. This was a very large and important history book of England, Scotland, and Ireland.

He also printed works by famous writers like Edmund Spenser and Gabriel Harvey. One of his most significant achievements was printing the first Welsh New Testament in 1567. This was the first time the New Testament was translated directly from Greek into Welsh. He also printed the first Welsh version of the Book of Common Prayer.

Printing Technology

By 1583, Henry Bynneman had three printing presses. His workshop had a wide variety of type, which are the metal letters used for printing. He even had special types for Greek and Hebrew languages.

He was also the first printer in England to use a unique style of writing called civilité or "secretary." This was a fancy, flowing script that made books look very elegant.

Later Life and Legacy

Henry Bynneman passed away in 1583. He left behind his wife and several children. After his death, some of his printing equipment and decorative designs were bought by another printing company called the Eliot's Court Press. This helped his work and style live on in other books.