Artist. Born in Norwich, he went to London after the expiration of his apprentiship to Stephen White, a Norwich printer. He joined the firm of John Hughs, printer to the House of Commons, who in 1774 made him a partner. In 1800 the buisness came entirely into Hansard’s hands and was renamed later as Luke Hansard and Sons. From 1774 until his death he printed the “Journal of the House of Commons.” The promptitude and accuracy with which he printed Parliamentary papers were often of the greatest service to the goverment; notably on one occasion when proof-sheets of the report of the secret committee on the French Revolution were submitted to Pitt twenty-four hours after the draught had left his hands. Amongst those whose friendship he had won in the exercise of his profession were Robert Orme, Edmund Burke and Ben Johnson. It was his son, Thomas Curson Hansard, who began printing the “parliamentary Debates” in 1803 from his own press. (bio by: s.canning)