John Sotheby Explained

John Sotheby
Birth Date:1740
Birth Place:Britain
Death Place:Chigwell, Essex, England
Occupation:auctioneer
Spouse:Elizabeth Cotton
Parents:John Sotheby and Anne Baker
Known For:namesake of Sotheby’s auction house

John Sotheby (1740 – 1 November 1807) was an English auctioneer, who is the eponym of the famous auction house Sotheby's.

Early life

Sotheby was born in 1740 in England to John Sotheby (1703–1775) and Anne Baker. The Sotheby family originally came from Yorkshire, England.[1]

Background

Auction house Baker and Leigh, was founded in London on 11 March 1744. He was the nephew of Samuel Baker, who was the founder of the book auctioneering firm which later became Sotheby's.

After his uncle's death in 1778, John became a partner in his book auctioneering firm along with George Leigh. He expanded the scope of business of the firm to include the sale of prints, medals, coins, and rare antiquities apart from books.[2]

Personal life

He died on 1 November 1807 in Chigwell, Essex.[3]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sotheby family. Oxford dictionary of national biography. 8 June 2023.
  2. Web site: Sotheby family. Oxford dictionary of national biography. 8 June 2023.
  3. Book: Timperley, Charles Henry . A dictionary of printers and printing, with the progress of literature; ancient and modern. London . H. Johnson . 1839 . 742 .