William Davison (publisher)

[1][failed verification] Wishing to enlarge his business, William placed an advert in the "Newcastle Courant" in 1804 indicating that his pharmacy now stocked books, paper, drawing materials and musical instruments in addition to the ointments etc.

The arrangement obviously didn't work as intended for either one or both the parties, and in less than 2 years it was dissolved leaving Davison publishing under his own account.

He failed in his attempt to produce a comprehensive history of the region, but his most significant works were probably his "splendid" (ref Isaac) Book of Common Prayer and his innovative folio Bible with copious commentaries originally sold in 100 parts at one shilling each.

Around 1815 the "Alnwick Dispensary" was founded "for the prompt and judicious aid of medicines and medical advice" (Isaac), and where Davison acted as apothecary.

However, in 1825, Davison, along with another eight men of the town began with a new works in Canongate which continued to produce gas until 1882 when production was moved to another site in Alnwick.

When Infant Schools became established in England in the 1830s pioneered by reformers such as Samuel Wilderspin, Davison was a major supplier nationally of educational "chap" books; primers for new readers or illustrated short stories designed to stimulate young minds.

Although he produced a number of school textbooks, his most successful was his edition of Charles Hutton's Complete Treatise on Practical Arithmentic and Book-Keeping (1828) In 1854, at the age of 72 William Davison established the “Alnwick Mercury” .

The paper was a success, remarkably so as the between 1827 and 1852 no less than 4 newspapers had been introduced and had failed, possibly due to the population being relatively small and in addition spread over a large area.

And about a year later he sold the newspaper title, which changed to the "Alnwick and County Gazette" in 1883, by which time the circulation was several thousands.