 rudolph ackermann (20 april 1764 in stollberg, electorate of saxony&ndash;30 march 1834 in finchley, london) was an anglo-german bookseller, inventor, lithographer, publisher and businessman. == biography== he attended the latin school in stollberg, but his wish to study at the university was made impossible by lack of financial means, and he therefore became a saddler like his father. he worked as a saddler and coach-builder in different german cities, then moved to paris, and then london, where in 1795 he established a print-shop and drawing-school in the strand.chambers biographical dictionary, isbn 0-550-18022-2, page 6 ackermann set up a lithographic press and begun a trade in prints. he later began to manufacture colours and thick carton paper for landscape and miniature painters. in 1809 he applied his press to the illustration of his repository of arts, literature, fashions, which appeared monthly until 1829, when forty volumes had appeared. thomas rowlandson and other distinguished artists were regular contributors. repository documented the changing classicising fashions in dress and furniture of the regency. he also introduced the fashion of the once popular literary annuals, beginning in 1823 with forget-me-not; and he published many illustrated volumes of topography and travel, including the microcosm of london (3 volumes, 1808â1811), westminster abbey (2 volumes, 1812), the rhine (1820) and the world in miniature (43 volumes, 1821â6). in 1801 he patented a method for rendering paper and cloth waterproof and erected a factory in chelsea to make it. he was one of the first to illuminate his own premises with gas. indeed the introduction of lighting by gas owed much to him. after the battle of leipzig, ackermann collected nearly a quarter of a million pounds sterling for the german casualties. he also patented the ackermann steering geometry. == see also == * thomas rowlandson * microcosm of london * poetical magazine * isaac cruikshank * george moutard woodward * ackermann's repository == references ==  * allgemeine deutsche biographie - online version at wikisource * catalogue of political and personal satires preserved in the department of prints and drawings in the british museum, mary dorothy george. vol vi 1938, vol vii, 1942 vol viii 1947, vol ix 1949 == further reading == * martin hardie (1906), english coloured books, london: methuen & 
1764_births 1834_deaths Burials_at_Kensal_Green_Cemetery English_inventors English_publishers_(people) German_inventors German_publishers_(people) Papermakers