DAVISON, William (1780-1858) — Alnwick
Pharmacist; seller of patent medicines; printer; engraver; bookseller, stationer & publisher; bookbinder; owner of a circulating library; stereotype maker. Engraved a caricature, The Politician ca.1816, featuring a map of France & Spain, as well as one of the Americas, in the background. Possibly the engraver of a map of Scotland for the fifth edition of the ‘Encyclopædia Britannica’ 1817 (entered just as W. Davison in BME 2011). A prolific publisher of all kinds of popular material, including over 100 books, many illustrated by Thomas Bewick (see BME 2011), songs, chapbooks, broadsides, prints, etc. A very large number of printer’s proofs, etc., survive in Northumberland archives. In later life he appears to have worked primarily as a pharmacist and druggist, and was recorded as a chemist and bookbinder on the 1851 census.
Born at Newcastle upon Tyne and baptised there either at All Saints 26 Nov 1780, the son of Thomas Davison, or at All Saints 1 Mar 1781, the son of John Davison, the latter born 13 Nov 1780. Apprenticed in 1795 to a pharmacist named Hind, he settled in Alnwick in 1802. Married Elizabeth Winship (b.1783?), originally from Hexham, at Gosforth 10 Jan 1803, in which year he was briefly in a partnership with Joseph Perry, a printer. In partnership with the well-known John Catnach (1769-1813) 1807-1808. He became the chief supplier of stereotype blocks in the north of England, issuing an extensive catalogue. In 1845, Davison chaired a meeting of the residents of Alnwick convened to discuss the merits of two proposed railway lines (proposed respectively by Brunel and the Stephensons) from Newcastle to Berwick, the meeting concluding that the route should run through Alnwick. Davison was later handling prospectuses for the new line. He died at Alnwick 29 Jun 1858. In 1847, Douglas Jerrold’s Weekly Newspaper reported that Davison had a fig-tree growing in his garden with a fine display of large fruit (26 Jun 1847). Founded the Alnwick Mercury in 1854. Probate on effects of under £1,000 was granted to his widow Elizabeth and son William, a surgeon, who briefly continued the printing business before selling it to Henry Hunter Blair.
22 Bondgate Street (Bondgate Within), Alnwick — 1802-1858
BBTI. BM. BNA. Census 1841-1851. Hunt. Peter Isaac, ‘Some Alnwick caricatures : a note and a handlist’ 1965; Peter Isaac, ‘William Davison of Alnwick: pharmacist and printer 1781-1858’ 1968; Peter Isaac, ‘William Davison’s new specimen of cast-metal ornaments and wood types introduced with an account of his activities as pharmacist and printer in Alnwick, 1780-1858’ 1990. LHD. Moir. NA.