Who Is William Caxton?

William Caxton is the first ever English printer. The first book in English language was printed by him in the year 1475, titled "Recuyell of the Historyes of Troye". William Caxton started off as a mercer, or a dealer in silk textiles. During the course of apprenticeship, he learnt printing and began to translate French literature to English. He set up the first printing press in Belgium and published the aforementioned translated book.

Three years later, after returning to England, he set up another printing press and printed a book in English, "Dictes and Sayenges of the Philosophers." Then followed books on romance, war, history, philosophy, morality and finally in the year 1481, he came out with an encyclopedia which was the world's first illustrated book.