Rooted Lines Genealogy

Professional Genealogist and Researcher

The Printer Who Built a Fortune:

William Bulmer (1757-1830)

This story begins in 1757 when William Bulmer was baptised on 13th November, 1757, at St John’s Church in Newcastle upon Tyne. He was one of eight children born to Thomas Bulmer, a house carpenter, and Esther Hodgson. Although one of his older brothers would become the well-known Sir Fenwick Bulmer, William’s own journey would lead him away from his father’s trade and into the world of fine printing.

Early Life and a Key Connection

Young William began his career apprenticed to Mr. Thompson, a letterpress printer in Newcastle upon Tyne. It was here that he worked alongside other talented apprentices who would later become famous figures in the printing world, namely Thomas Bewick and Robert Pollard. This experience laid the foundation for his future success.

Making His Mark in London

There is a gap in the records after William’s move to London, but by 1787, he was back on the record books. He secured a job working for George Nichol, who was the King’s bookseller. This connection immediately placed William in influential literary and royal circles.

However, on 19th January 1778, William was made a Freeman of the House Carpenters Guild (a right he inherited from his father) in Newcastle upon Tyne. However, he wasn’t officially sworn in until two years later. This strongly suggests that by the time he was twenty years old, William had already left Newcastle and was already in the capital, London, seeking bigger opportunities.

By 1790, his success was clear: the Poor Rate Books for St James, Piccadilly, show William paying a substantial quarterly rate of £1, 3s. 4d. for his premises in Russell Court. He was now a successful, established businessman.

The Rise of a Master Printer and the Royal Court

William Bulmer soon became known for the high quality and artistry of his work. In 1796, he published a beautiful quarto edition of Somerville’s “Chase”, featuring engravings done by his old colleague, Thomas Bewick, and designed by Thomas’s brother, John.

His press went on to print important works, including Dibdin’s “Typographical Antiquities of Great Britain” and the “Bibliotheca Spenceriana”. By the end of his career, William had printed nearly 600 books and pamphlets, along with major reports and catalogues for powerful clients like the East India Company, the Royal Society, and the British Museum.

William achieved the highest social ranks when, alongside his brother Fenwick, he became a member of The Band of Honorable Gentlemen Pensioners to King George III. This ancient corps, founded by Henry VIII in 1509, was the Sovereign’s personal bodyguard. By William’s time, their role was highly ceremonial: they attended the King at major state occasions (such as the opening of Parliament and royal celebrations) and escorted him during public appearances. Their presence added visual grandeur and prestige to the Crown, signifying William’s status as a gentleman and his connections with the Royal Court.

A Wealthy Legacy

In 1806, when he was 49, William married Elizabeth Clarke, who was 20 years younger. They lived at Clapham Rise in Surrey but had no children. William Bulmer died there on 9th September, 1830, and was buried in St. Clement Danes, Strand.

His wealth at the time of his death was extraordinary. His estate was valued at about £30,000, which is approximately £3.3 million in today’s money. His will detailed twenty-eight specific bequests, including cash, property, and jewellery, showing that the carpenter’s son had become a highly successful and very wealthy figure in the British printing industry.

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