Thomas, Robert Bailey, 1766-1846

Robert Bailey Thomas (1766-1846), of Sterling and West Boylston, Mass., was the son of William and Azabah Thomas. From an early age, Thomas desired to publish an almanac, but found he lacked the needed mathematical skill. He became an apprentice book binder and soon began a career as a bookseller. This in turn renewed his interest in publishing almanacs, so Thomas attended a mathematics school in Boston. In 1793, he published his _Farmer's Almanack_. Thomas had a good sense of what his subscribers desired in an almanac. He refused to include the traditional signs of the zodiac as a frontispiece and added poetry, agricultural advice, and patriotic sayings. Between the years 1820 and 1830 over 200,000 copies of his almanacs were sold. Thomas continued editing and publishing his _Old Farmer's Almanac_ until his death in 1846.