**WILLIAM CAXTON**
William Caxton was the first English printer. He was born in 1422, in Weald, Kent, England
and lived till 1491.
He then traveled to Germany, to learn printing, he lived there for 30 years. Caxton moved to
Brugge[Bruges], Flanders [now a part of Belgium], where he opened his own textile business,
and about 1471 he moved to Cologne, Germany, where he learnt the art of printing.
At this time Caxton was also translating into English a popular French romance, which he
printed in Brugge as The Recuyell of Historyes of Troye[circa 1474]. It is famous as the first
book printed in English. Returning to England in 1476, Caxton set up a printing press at
Westminster Abbey. His first publication there was an indulgence, which was distributed in
December 1476.
William Caxton published Chauser's poem "Troilus and Coriseple".
This information came from ENCARTA 97
By Sarah and Olivia 4/5S
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This page was last modified on 1st July, 1998
