Profession: bookseller

Tonson, claimed as the first modern English publisher, made his mark with top-quality contemporary writing and the unprecedented scholarship of his historical editions. Dryden, one of his authors, was equally friend and business-partner. Addison wrote introductions to his works of Virgil, and was paid handsomely for the copyright of his most successful play. Pope, who described him as full of wit and spirit, was first published by Tonson. Vanbrugh was a crony, Congreve lived in his house. All these were members of the Kit-Cat Club he presided over, and all bar Vanbrugh contributed translations to his great edition of Ovid.