Catnach, John, 1769-1813

John Catnach, printer and bookseller was born 1769 in Burntisland, Scotland. He served his apprenticeship in Edinburgh and in 1790 established his family and business in Alnwick. Catnach's press specialized in finely embellished work, many illustrated by Thomas Bewick, including The beauties of natural history [ca. 1790]. He relocated to Newcastle towards the end of 1808, and in 1812 once again pulled up stakes and attempted to set up business on Gerrard-street in London. He fell ill in August 1813 and died December 4, 1813. Catnach's career was plagued throughout by financial difficulties, mostly due to his prediliction to drink. His son, James Catnach, established himself in London shortly after his father's death, and became a successful printer of ballads, broadsides and chap-books.