Born: 5-Jul-1752
Birthplace: Norwich, England
Died: 28-Oct-1828
Cause of death: unspecified

Gender: Male
Race or Ethnicity: White
Sexual orientation: Straight
Occupation: Publisher

Nationality: England
Executive summary: English printer

English printer, born on the 5th of July 1752 in St. Mary's parish, Norwich. He was educated at Boston grammar school, and was apprenticed to Stephen White, a Norwich printer. As soon as his apprenticeship had expired Hansard started for London with only a guinea in his pocket, and became a compositor in the office of John Hughs (1703-1771), printer to the House of Commons. In 1774 he was made a partner, and undertook almost the entire conduct of the business, which in 1800 came completely into his hands. On the admission of his sons the firm became Luke Hansard & Sons. Among those whose friendship Hansard won in the exercise of his profession were Robert Orme, Edmund Burke and Samuel Johnson; while Porson praised him as the most accurate printer of Greek. He printed the Journals of the House of Commons from 1774 until his death. The promptitude and accuracy with which Hansard printed parliamentary papers were often of the greatest service to government -- notably on one occasion when the proof-sheets of the report of the Secret Committee on the French Revolution were submitted to Pitt twenty-four hours after the draft had left his hands. On the union with Ireland in 1801, the increase of parliamentary printing compelled Hansard to give up all private printing except when parliament was not sitting. He devised numerous expedients for reducing the expense of publishing the reports; and in 1805, when his workmen struck at a time of great pressure, he and his sons themselves set to work as compositors. Luke Hansard died on the 29th of October 1828.

Son: Thomas Curson Hansard (printer, b . 1776, d. 1833)

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