William Leggo

William Augustus Leggo (25 January 1830 – 21 July 1915) was a Canadian inventor, engraver and businessperson.

After graduating from Quebec High School, he apprenticed as an engraver, first to his father and then to Cyrus A. Swett in Boston.

[1] Leggo worked with his brothers Thomas, Edward, and Henry in the family engraving business before partnering with George-Paschal Desbarats and Stewart Derbishire as Wm.

[1] The two patented "Leggotyping", a type of photomechanical reproduction for letterpress printing, on February 27, 1865.

[1] While it was a pioneering effort, it was not a financial success, and Desbarats returned to Montreal soon after.