George Angus (printer)

Thomas, his wife Margaret, their eldest son Thomas (Junior) and second son, George Angus were members of a Tyneside family who ran a printing and publishing business between 1774 and 1825, very important at the time for the Chapbook business.

The “Angus Family” printing business was founded by Thomas Angus in 1774 and quickly became one of the leading printers of Chapbooks. He actually employed a young Thomas Bewick from 1774-1776. The company occupied premises in The Side, Newcastle.

Thomas (senior) died in 1784 and his widow Margaret took over the running of the business. By the year 1800 the name of the enterprise had been changed to M Angus & Son with son Thomas (Junior) as a partner until his death in 1808.

At this stage the second son George became the junior partner.

Margaret retired in December 1812 and George continued to run the business, changing the name again to G Angus, until his bankruptcy in 1825, when all his stock was auctioned.

Henry Robson and Robert Emery were at one time apprenticed to the Angus family business.

These include :-
Thomas (senior) - who printed :

• Numerous street literature and Chapbooks
• the rules of The Philosophical Society of 1775

Margaret - who published :

• Specimens of Wood Engraving by Thomas and John Bewick” (Hugo, 4097) in 1798
• John Bell’s Rhymes of Northern Bards
• Newcastle Garland c1805

George - who published :

• A Collection of New Song, published c1810 (which included “The Weymouth Frigate”, “William at Eve or William at Eve's Garland”, “Say, Bonny Lass”, “Rat tat too”, “Still from Care and thinking free,” and “Loose every Sail to the Breeze”.