William Perry
(died 1808), Teacher, linguist and lexicographerSitter in 2 portraits
by Andrew Birrell, published by John Stockdale, after Bergnis
line engraving, published 1794
NPG D5512
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Lorraine Millard
23 June 2021, 06:12
William Perry had a school in Kelso on the Borders in the middle of the eighteenth century. He commenced publishing dictionaries and books for the education of young men for industry. His dictionaries were very successful and were exported to America. In the 1770's he moved his family to Edinburgh where he established a school and printing business at Taylors Gate. I believe him to be the brother of Sampson Perry who fought along with Thomas Paine for democracy, freedom of speech, freedom of the press and civil liberties in the late eighteenth century.
William had a legal action brought against him in Edinburgh. He became a ship's surgeon and went to live in London.
Lorraine Millard
24 June 2021, 04:48
William Perry (1745?- 1806?) English origin. Conducted a school in Kelso on the border with Scotland while writing books on education for young men and compiling and publishing his dictionaries ( e.g. Royal Standard English dictionary) His dictionaries were very successful and were exported to America where they sold well. In 1775 he moved his family and educational business to Edinburgh opening an academy at Taylor's Gate. Here he conducted a school taking in boarders as well as a publishing business. 1777 a legal action was taken out against William to recover debt.
He became a ship's surgeon but still continued his interest in lexicography publishing a French - English pronouncing dictionary possibly with the assistance of his brother Sampson Perry who was in Newgate as a political prisoner. Both brothers were strong supporters of democracy.