John, an eminent letter-founder and printer, was born in 1706, at Wolverley, in Worcestershire. He was heir to an estate of about L60 a year, the whole of which income he allowed to his parents during their lives. In his early years he conceived a love for calligraphy and cutting in stone; and being brought up to no particular profession, he became a writing-master at Birmingham when about twenty years of age. Here the improvements made in different manufactures soon drew his attention, and he applied to the business of jamming, which he carried on for a long time with distinguished excellence and success. In 1750 he turned his attention to letter-founding, which, with much labour and expense, he brought to great perfection, and in a few years proceeded to printing. His first work was an edition of Virgil in royal quarto. Soon after this the university of Cambridge granted him permission to print a Bible in royal folio, and editions of the Common Prayer in three sizes; a privilege for which he paid a considerable sum to the university. He afterwards printed Horace, Terence, Catullus, Lucretius, Juvenal, Sallust, and Florus, in royal quarto; Virgil in octavo; and several books in duodecimo. He likewise published some of the English classics. These books are admirable specimens of typography; and indeed Baskerville is deservedly ranked among those who, in modern times, have brought the art of printing to its greatest perfection. It has been observed, however, that his books are far more elegantly than correctly printed. Not having met with that encouragement which he expected from the booksellers, Baskerville set up his letter foundry for sale a little before his death, which took place in July 1775.