John Exshaw

John Exshaw (1753 – 6 January 1827) was an Irish bookseller, printer, civic official and Volunteer commander who served twice as Lord Mayor of Dublin, from 1789 to 1790 and again from February to October 1800. He also served as sheriff, alderman and divisional justice of police in Dublin. During the disturbances of 1797–1798, Exshaw commanded the Stephen's Green Yeomanry and served as adjutant-general of the yeomanry forces in the Dublin district.

Personal life John Exshaw was born in 1753, the second son of John Exshaw and his first wife, Faith Walker. The Exshaw family had been in the bookselling business since 1732. The foundation for this had been laid by his uncle, Edward Exshaw, and Edward's brother, John Exshaw's father. After his father's death, John Exshaw took over the business and ran it until 1822. His retirement marked the end of his family's bookselling activities.

Business career He succeeded his father in the book trade as printer, bookseller and stationer in 1776, moving from Dame Street to Grafton Street in 1782. He obtained lucrative contracts with the lottery commissioners (1780), Dublin University Press (1787–1788) and the Post Office (1792).

Among his firm's publications was an edition of the Works of George Berkeley and an edition by Edmund Malone of Shakespeare's Plays and poems (1794). He continued the family's publication of Exshaw's Gentleman's Magazine until 1794. In an obituary he was credited with publication of Hue and Cry, a police gazette, 'emoluments of which are stated to be about £1,000 a year' (Gent. Mag.).

He is connected to the later Exshaw family in the Bordeaux brandy trade through his brother, Thomas and his descendants. His nephew, also named John Exshaw, settled in Bordeaux and established the John Exshaw Cognac house.

He died in Roebuck on 6 January 1827 at the age of 74 and was buried in St. John's Cemetery in Clondalkin. There he was buried next to his first wife and her two daughters.