[1] Born in London 4 August 1756 and christened at St Luke's Old Street, he studied seal, die and copper-plate engraving as an apprentice to John Phillips near Finsbury Square.
He was hired by John Bell's British Letter Foundry in 1788 as a punch-cutter, to imitate Didot's 1782 types "de la troisième manière," cut by Pierre Vafflard to F-A Didot's designs.
[2] When the foundry closed in 1797, Austin brought in his own punches and sold strikes to Fry & Steele, Figgins, and Caslon.
Austin cut Greek types for Cambridge University Press in 1806–8, following designs provided by the famous master Richard Porson.
Wilson's earliest specimen showing the improved types is dated 1812.