Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 11.djvu/141

 Street, Clowes removed to larger premises, previously occupied by Mr. Clark, in Northumberland Court, Charing Cross, where (in 1823) he was the first to make use of steam machinery for bookwork printing. He was obliged to rebuild on account of a fire, and to defend an action for nuisance caused by his new engines brought by a neighbour, the Duke of Northumberland. The duke lost the action, but subsequently bought out Clowes, who, taking Applegath's business, removed to a site still occupied by the firm in Duke Street, Stamford Street, Blackfriars Road. In 1832 he was chosen by the executive of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge to print, from new machines made by Applegath and Cowper, the 'Penny Magazine,' the earliest instance of successfully printing woodcuts by steam. He also printed the 'Penny Cyclopædia' and other publications of the society. The chief features in his work were accuracy, speed, and quantity. The business increased rapidly, owing to Clowes's energy and enterprise. The course of its development may be seen from particulars coUected in 1839 by Sir F. B. Head (see Quarterly Review, December number), and by Timperley (Encyclopædia, p. 920). In 1846 he was turned out of his private residence in Parliament Street, where he had lived twenty-two years, to make room for railway offices, and retired to a country house at Banstead. By his wife, who died before him, he had four sons, all of whom were brought up to the business, and four daughters. He died at Wimpole Street on 26 Jan. 1847, and was buried in Norwood cemetery.

 CLOWES, WILLIAM (1780–1851), primitive methodist, son of William Clowes, potter, and of Ann, daughter of Aaron Wedgwood, was born at Burslem, Staffordshire, on 12 March 1780, and employed during his early years as a working potter. He was considered one of the finest dancers in his neighbourhood, aspired to be the premier dancer in the kingdom, and gave a challenge to all England. For many years he led a dissipated life, but on 20 Jan. 1815 was converted. He soon established a prayer-meeting in his own house, became the leader of a Wesleyan methodist class, and joined a society which endeavoured to promote the better keeping of the Sunday. He was one of the attendants at the first camp-meeting ever held in England, which was at Mow Hill, near Harrisehead, on 31 May 1807, and was joined in this meeting by Hugh and James Bourne and others. In October 1808 he preached his trial sermon and was duly appointed a local preacher, but, continuing to associate with the Bournes and to attend camp-meetings, his name was omitted from the preachers plan in June 1810, and in September his quarterly ticket as a member of the society was withheld from him. After this he made common cause with H. and J. Bourne and J. Crawfort, and with them was one of the founders of the primitive methodist connexion, which dates its commencement from 14 March 1810 [see ]. From this time forward he became one of the best-known preachers of the new society, and his labours in most of the northern counties of England, as well as in London and Cornwall, were most successful in adding members to the church. In 1819 he visited Hull, where primitive methodism was as yet unknown, and such was the force and earnestness of his preaching that in six months three hundred persons joined the society. On 10 June 1842 he was placed on the superannuation fund, but still continued his labours as before, and was at his work until a day or two before his decease, which took place, from paralysis, at Hull on 2 March 1851. He was a man of strong common sense and of great mental powers.

 CLOWES, WILLIAM, the younger (1807–1883), printer, eldest son of William Clowes the elder (1779–1847) [q. v.], was born 15 May 1807, and entered his father's business in 1823. The name of the firm was changed to William Clowes & Sons in 1846. They have long carried on one of the largest printing businesses in London, having also extensive premises at Beccles, Suffolk. The official catalogues of the exhibitions of 1851 and 1883 to 1886 were printed by them, as well as (since 1823) the exhibition catalogues of the Royal Academy. They introduced improvements in type-music printing and the Clowes type composing machine (Hooker's patent). They are also publishers of military and legal works (for the Council of Law Reporting), and of 'Hymns Ancient and Modern.' William Clowes the younger was much esteemed for his benevolent disposition and the active interest he took in the welfare of the operatives of his craft. In 1844 he was trustee, and in 1853 treasurer, of the Printers' Pension 