St John Hornby facts for kids
Charles Harold St John Hornby (born in 1867, died in 1946) was an important person who helped start the famous W. H. Smith company. He also helped lead a children's charity called the NSPCC and created his own special printing company, the Ashendene Press.
Early Life and Education
Charles Harold St John Hornby was born on June 25, 1867, in Much Dewchurch, England. His father was Charles Edward Hornby, and his mother was Harriet.
He went to Harrow School and then to New College, Oxford University. There, he studied classic subjects like ancient Greek and Roman history. While at Oxford, he was a strong rower. He rowed in the "stroke" position for his college team and the university team. He was part of the crew that won the famous 1890 University Boat Race.
Career and Printing
In 1892, Hornby became a lawyer. However, his friend Freddy Smith offered him a job at his family's business, WH Smith. Hornby and Freddy Smith had traveled the world together before this.
In 1900, Hornby met two important people: Emery Walker and Sydney Cockerell. Sydney Cockerell was working for William Morris at the Kelmscott Press, a famous printing company. Walker and Cockerell taught Hornby a lot about printing. They helped him create two special typefaces (font styles) for his own printing company, the Ashendene Press. These typefaces were called Subiaco and Ptolemy.
Honors and Legacy
From 1906 to 1907, Hornby held an important position called High Sheriff of the County of London.
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Today, the National Portrait Gallery, London has a drawing of Hornby. It was made in 1923 by a famous artist named Sir William Rothenstein.
Family Life
Charles Hornby married Cicely Rachel Emily Barclay on January 19, 1898. Cicely's father, Charles Barclay, was a director at a bank.
The Hornbys had homes in Chelsea, London, and in Dorset. They had three sons and two daughters:
- Michael Charles St John Hornby (1899–1987)
- Sir Roger Antony Hornby (1904–1987), who became a senior partner at a stockbroker company called Cazenove.
- Dame Rosamund Holland-Martin (1914–2001), who led the NSPCC (a children's charity) from 1969 to 1988. She was married to Admiral Sir Deric Holland-Martin.
