James Abree facts for kids

James Abree (born around 1691, died 1768) was an important English printer, publisher, and bookseller in the 1700s. He helped bring news and books to people in Canterbury, England.

Who Was James Abree?

James Abree was a key figure in the world of printing and publishing during the 18th century. He was known for his work in Canterbury, a historic city in England. Abree played a big part in starting the city's first newspaper.

Early Life and Training

James Abree was the son of William Abree from Winchester. When he was young, James learned the printing trade. From 1705 to 1712, he was an apprentice to Ichabod Dawkes, a printer in London. This training taught him all about how to print books and newspapers.

Starting a Business in Canterbury

In 1717, Abree moved to Canterbury. He might have been invited by the city leaders to set up his business there. In the same year, he started what is believed to be Canterbury's very first newspaper. This paper was called the Kentish Post.

In 1722, James Abree became a "freeman" of Canterbury. This meant he had special rights and privileges in the city. In that same year, he married Mary Simmons. Mary was the daughter of Samuel and Frances Simmons from Deal. Mary passed away in 1748. James and Mary had one daughter, also named Mary. Their daughter Mary married Lieutenant Thomas Woolley Pickering in 1745.

Abree's Printing and Publishing Work

Besides printing the Kentish Post newspaper, James Abree printed many other things. He printed books and small, everyday items. These included special verses sung by bellmen and popular songs called ballads.

Abree also ran a bookshop where he sold stationery. He even worked as an agent for the Sun Fire Office. This was an early type of insurance company. So, he helped people get insurance for their homes and businesses.

Retirement and Newspaper Changes

Towards the end of his career, James Abree took on an assistant. His assistant was George Kirkby, whose father was a vicar in Canterbury. Kirkby had also trained as a printer in London.

In 1768, the Kentish Post announced Abree's plans to retire. He wanted Kirkby to take over his business. Around this time, a new newspaper was started by James Simmons. After a short competition between the two papers, they decided to join forces.

The two newspapers merged to become the Kentish Gazette. This newspaper is still published every week in Canterbury today (as of 2011). The company run by Simmons and Kirkby continued for 23 years after Abree retired.