C
Cary , J &W
By Pierre Joppen
Dec 14, 2009, 04:34

Founded by John Cary and his brother William. Highly recognized for their excellence in quality. The business was very prosperous, both as instrument makers and map publishers. Continued by sons George and John Cary. Sold to G.F. Cruchley in 1850, who continued to produce globes under the Cary name.
One of the most important globe making firms of the early 19th century was founded by John Cary (1755-1835), an engraver and map seller. In 1770, he was apprenticed to William Palmer and made a freeman in 1778. He started his globe making business in 1791, when he advertised 3.5, 9, 12, and 21 in. terrestrial and celestial globes from entirely new plates. In 1812, he added a celestial model and, in 1816, a pair of 18 in. globes. In making globes and plantaria, Cary co-operated with his brother William (c. 1759-1825), a London instrument maker who had learned his trade as an apprentice to Jesse Ramsden. In other projects, however, the two brothers maintained separate businesses. From 1792, the globe firm was located at 181 The Strand.
In about 1820, John moved to 86 St James's Street, leaving the old place in The Strand to his two sons, George (c. 1788-1859) and John Cary, Jr. (1791-1852) who, by that time, had become involved in the globe making business. After the death of John Jr. in 1852, the firm was managed by Henry Gould. The firm name “William Cary” was maintained until 1890.