Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Hansard, Thomas Curson
HANSARD, THOMAS CURSON (1776–1833), printer, eldest son of Luke Hansard [q. v.], was born in London 6 Nov. 1776. For some years he was in his father's office, and in 1805 took over the business of Mr. Rickaby in Peterborough Court in the city of London. He moved to new premises in 1823, and established the Paternoster Row Press. His name has become famous from the 'Parliamentary Debates,' which he began to print in 1803. Since 1889 the 'Debates' have been produced by the Hansard Publishing Union, Limited. Hansard suffered imprisonment, 9 July 1810, as printer of the famous libel dealing with military flogging in Cobbett's 'Political Register.' He wrote 'Typographia, an Historical Sketch of the Origin and Progress of the Art of Printing; with Practical Directions for conducting every department in an Office, with a description of Stereotype and Lithography,' London, 1825, 8vo, with a woodcut portrait of the author. The practical portion of the book was re-edited in 1869 by G. Challoner. Hansard took out a patent for the improvement of the handpress. At one time he was a member of the common council of the city of London. Hedied in Chatham Place, Blackfriars, 14 May 1833, leaving several children. His eldest son, Thomas Curson Hansard, barrister, has written some books on the history of printing, sometimes attributed to the father.
[Gent. Mag. June 1833, p. 569; Ann. Reg. 1833; Timperley's Encyclopædia, pp. 839, 857, 928; Bigmore and Wyman's Bibliography of Printing, i. 301-5.]