Meynell, Francis Meredith Wilfrid, 1891-1975
Name Entries
person
Meynell, Francis Meredith Wilfrid, 1891-1975
Computed Name Heading
Name Components
Surname :
Meynell
Forename :
Francis Meredith Wilfrid
Date :
1891-1975
eng
Latn
authorizedForm
rda
Meynell, Francis, Sir, 1891-1975
Computed Name Heading
Name Components
Surname :
Meynell
Forename :
Francis
NameAddition :
Sir
Date :
1891-1975
eng
Latn
alternativeForm
rda
Genders
Exist Dates
Biographical History
Francis Meredith Wilfrid Meynell was born on May 12, 1891 in London, England to Wilfrid and Alice (Thompson) Meynell, the youngest of seven surviving children. Francis Thompson was Francis Meynell's godfather. Meynell attended Trinity College, Dublin, from 1908 until 1910 or 1911. He married three times: Hilda Saxe, 1914 (one daughter, Cynthia); Vera Mendel, 1925 (one son, Benedict); and Alix Hester Marie Kilroy, 1946 (no children).
Francis Meynell was a typographer, book designer, and publisher. After leaving Trinity College, he worked for his father at Burns & Oates Ltd. as head of design, 1911-1913. He then founded and designed for Pelican Press, launched sometime between 1914-1916. He became the director and assistant editor of the Daily Herald in 1918, and founded Nonesuch Press, where he was also the designer and director, 1923-1975. While running Nonesuch, Meynell also served as a columnist for News Chronicle (1934); was a director of the Mather & Crowther Ltd. advertising agency (1939-1960); and a director for Bodley Head Ltd. (1960-1975). He published his autobiography, My Lives with Random House in 1971.
Meynell was a conscientious objector during World War One. In 1921 he served as editor of the weekly paper The Communist, and he supported the Republican side in the Spanish Civil War.
Meynell was a member of the Art Workers Guild, the Society of Typographer Designers (president, 1958-1962), the Poetry Society (vice-president), and the Savile Club. He also participated as the British Broadcasting Corporation Brains Trust (London) chair, 1942-1943; H.M. Stationery Office honorary typography advisor, 1945-1966; Cement and Concrete Association, director-general, 1946-1958; Royal Mint (London) member of advisory council, 1954-70; and the Royal College of Art member of council, 1959-1961.
Francis Meynell was named Royal Designer for Industry by the Royal Society of Arts in 1945; knighted in 1946, and honored with a D.Litt. from the University of Reading in 1964.
Francis Meynell died on July 9, 1975 in London.
eng
Latn
External Related CPF
https://viaf.org/viaf/34623453
https://www.worldcat.org/identities/lccn-n50036626
https://id.loc.gov/authorities/n50036626
https://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q5481927
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Languages Used
eng
Zyyy
Subjects
Publishers and publishing
Authors, English
Graphic designers
Nationalities
Britons
Activities
Occupations
Book designers
Publisher
Legal Statuses
Places
Greater London
ENG, GB
AssociatedPlace
Residence
Convention Declarations
<conventionDeclaration><citation>VIAF</citation></conventionDeclaration>