Alexander Arbuthnot (printer)


Alexander Arbuthnot was an early printer in Edinburgh, Scotland, the fourth son of John Arbuthnot Sr in Portertown and of Legasland.

Life

He printed the first edition of George Buchanan's first History of Scotland in 1582.
The Scots Buik of the most noble and vailyzeand Conqueror Alexander the Great, printed by Alexander Arbuthnot about 1580, reprinted in 1831 for the Bannatyne Club, is not really a life. It contains three episodes of the cycle, the "Forray of Gadderis", " The Avowes of Alexander," and "The Great Battel of Effesoun," taken from the Viceux du paon.
Found in the British Library Catalogue: "Letter of the Privy Council 8 March 1575 to every parish to advance to Alexander Arbuthnet five pounds Scots for the printing of the Bible issued at Edinburgh with his imprint 1579".
He married one Agnes Pennycuick and died intestate.

Footnotes