Thomas Wilkins

Thomas Wilkins was a bookseller, stationer, and printer. He completed his apprenticeship to William Oliver at 12 Bartholomew Close in 1781, having already assumed his master's business in 1780 after Oliver's death. In 1781 Wilkins appeared on the title page of John Newton's famous Olney Hymns. By 1784 he had relocated to 45 Cow Lane, Snow Hill, and closed his career at 23 Aldermanbury, London, from 1790 to 1799.  Wilkins was the son of Thomas Wilkins of Northamptonshire, who apprenticed him to Oliver for £21 in 1772. During his career Wilkins had 12 apprentices of his own.  He is probably the same Mr. Wilkins who was pardoned for his part in the affair of Lord George Gordon, 16 July 1786.  He maintained close ties throughout his career with Evangelical Anglicans and Calvinist Dissenters. See Ian Maxted, The London Book Trades 1775-1800 (London: Dawson, 1977), 247-48.