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Thomas Payne

1719 – 1799

English bookseller and publisher

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About Thomas Payne

Lived 1719 – 1799 (aged 79). Thomas Payne was a British bookseller and publisher.

Thomas Payne (c. 1718 – 1799) was an important bookseller and publisher in 18th-century London.

Life Payne was born in Brackley, Northamptonshire. From 1750 he ran a shop at Mews Gate in Castle Street near Leicester Fields (the site is now occupied by the National Gallery). The premises were notoriously small, but popular with the literati of that period.

Referred to as the "Literary Coffee House", the shop became a sort of club during the day for discussions on all subjects. Patrons included George Steevens, Thomas Crofts, John Hoole and Thomas Tyrwhitt. Payne issued sale catalogues on a regular basis, as did many of his contemporaries, and these are now good sources of information about prices, popular books, bookbinding, and other aspects of 18th-century book history.

Payne's daughter Sarah married James Burney, a naval officer and brother of novelist Frances Burney, some of whose work Payne had published. He retired to Finchley in 1790 leaving the business in the hands of his son, also Thomas Payne (1752–1831). He is buried at St. Mary's church in Finchley, north London.

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Important facts

People in Thomas Payne's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

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Frequently asked questions

Who was Thomas Payne?

English bookseller and publisher

When was Thomas Payne born?

Thomas Payne was born on 1 May 1719.

When did Thomas Payne die?

Thomas Payne died on 2 February 1799.

What was Thomas Payne's occupation?

Thomas Payne was a bookseller and publisher.

What nationality was Thomas Payne?

Thomas Payne was British.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Thomas Payne

· Wikidata: Q7793066

· DBpedia: Thomas Payne (publisher)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Thomas Payne. https://biography.guide/thomas-payne/

MLA: "Thomas Payne." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/thomas-payne/.

Chicago: "Thomas Payne." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/thomas-payne/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-22 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence

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