WilliamCloweswasthefounderofthevastprintingestablishmentfromwhichthesesheetsareissued；andhiscareerfurnishesanotherstrikingillustrationoftheforceofindustryandcharacter。Hewasbornonthe1stofJanuary，1779。HisfatherwaseducatedatOxford，andkeptalargeschoolatChichester；
butdyingwhenWilliamwasbutaninfant，helefthiswidow，withstraitenedmeans，tobringupherfamily。AtaproperageWilliamwasboundapprenticetoaprinteratChichester；and，afterservinghimforsevenyears，hecameuptoLondon，atthebeginningof1802，toseekemploymentasajourneyman。HesucceededinfindingworkatasmallofficeonTowerHill，atasmallwage。Thefirstlodgingshetookcosthim5s。aweek；butfindingthisbeyondhismeanshehiredaroominagarretat2s。
6d。，whichwasasmuchashecouldaffordoutofhisscantyearnings。
Thefirstjobhewasputto，wasthesetting-upofalargeposter-bill——akindofworkwhichhehadbeenaccustomedtoexecuteinthecountry；andheknockedittogethersoexpertlythathismaster，Mr。Teape，onseeingwhathecoulddo，saidtohim，“Ah！Ifindyouarejustthefellowforme。“Theyoungman，however，feltsostrangeinLondon，wherehewaswithoutafriendoracquaintance，thatattheendofthefirstmonthhethoughtofleavingit；andyearnedtogobacktohisnativecity。Buthehadnotfundsenoughtoenablehimtofollowhisinclinations，andheaccordinglyremainedinthegreatCity，towork，topersevere，andfinallytoprosper。HecontinuedatTeape’sforabouttwoyears，livingfrugally，andevencontrivingtosavealittlemoney。
Hethenthoughtofbeginningbusinessonhisownaccount。Thesmallscaleonwhichprintingwascarriedoninthosedaysenabledhimtomakeastartwithcomparativelylittlecapital。