Thomas Witherby

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Thomas Witherby (1719 – 26 November 1797){{cite web | title=Londinium Redivivum: Or, an Antient History and Modern Description of London | website=Google | date=2014-07-28 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l7FCAQAAMAAJ | access-date=2024-10-03 | last1=Malcolm | first1=James Peller }} was the founder of Witherby's, now known as the Witherby Publishing Group, one of the oldest publishing companies in the United Kingdom.{{cite web |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/business/13088693.Boss_at_Witherby_sailing_on_crest_of_a_wave/ |title=Herald Scotland - Witherby on the Crest of a wave |date=19 January 2013 |accessdate=1 July 2016}}{{cite web | title=Witherby Publishing Group | website=Publishing Scotland | date=2024-02-22 | url=https://www.publishingscotland.org/ps-member/witherby-publishing-group/ | access-date=2024-10-03}}{{cite journal | last1=Doherty | first1=Sean Paul | last2=Henderson | first2=Stuart | title=Production of parchment legal deeds in England, 1690–1830 | journal=Historical Research | publisher=Oxford University Press (OUP) | volume=95 | issue=270 | date=2022-07-06 | issn=0950-3471 | doi=10.1093/hisres/htac013 | doi-access=free | pages=575–585| hdl=10871/129584 | hdl-access=free }} In 1740, he opened a stationer's shop at 9 Birchin Lane, London next door to the Sword Blade coffee house. His shop initially sold parchment, paper and stamps. By the time of his death his shop was selling over 11,000 stamped skins annually.

The family business grew into a printing business, a publisher specializing in marine subjects, a bookshop and other businesses.{{cite web |url=http://witherbypublishinggroup.com/Portals/1/pdf/Company%20Fact%20Sheet%202015%20-%20April.pdf |title=2015 Company Fact Sheet |accessdate=19 May 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://witherbypublishinggroup.com/Witherby-History |title=Witherby History |accessdate=19 May 2015}}

Thomas Witherby's records and those of his apprentices are held within the Records of London's Livery Companies as well in the London Metropolitan Archives.

{{cite web | title=search-results | website=Livery Companies | url=https://www.londonroll.org/search/?vb=lr&vw=ps&st=1850&rf=company%3Abwy%2Cslt%2CSTN%7Cyear_start%3A1400%7Cyear_finish%3A1900&sb=surname&sa=1 | access-date=2024-10-03}}{{cite web | title=Witherby and Company Limited | website=London Metropolitan Archives| url=https://search.lma.gov.uk/scripts/mwimain.dll/144/LMA_OPAC/web_detail/REFD+LMA~2F4682?SESSIONSEARCH| access-date=2024-10-03}} These include precedent books containing pro forma specimen court documents and forms written in his own hand.

In 1767 he was elected to the Council of the City of London Corporation representing Langbourn Ward.{{cite web |url=http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/london-metropolitan-archives/the-collections/Pages/witherbys.aspx |title=London Metropolitan Archives-Thomas Witherby |accessdate=1 July 2016}}