Benjamin Cole (instrument maker): Difference between revisions

Benjamin Cole had a long-standing interest in [[freemasonry]] and engraved the frontispiece to the 1756 ''Book of Constitutions'' after succeeding [[John Pine]] in 1743 as official engraver to the [[Grand Lodge]].

Cole drew up the ward maps for the first edition of the historian and topographer [[William Maitland (historian)|William Maitland]]'s (c.1693–1757) posthumous ''History of London from Its Foundation to the Present Time'' (1769).<ref>[http://www.brynmawr.edu/Library/speccoll/guides/london/history.shtml Bryn Mawr College Library]</ref> (Cf. [[John Entick]]'s ''New and Accurate History and Survey of London'' of 1766.) His music engravings included a collection by [[John Frederick Lampe]] with a setting of the ''Entered Apprentice's Song''. <ref>[http://www.masonicpaedia.org/showarticle.asp?id=41 ''Entered Apprentice's Song'']</ref> In 1728/9, he published a copy of the ''[[Old Charges]]'' with speeches by two [[Freemasons]], [[Francis Drake (antiquary)|Francis Drake]] and architect [[Edward Oakley]]. His illustrations appeared in books ranging from fables for children to manuals of military drill, a notable work being a venture in collaboration with Edward Oakley, ''The Magazine of Architecture, Perspective, and Sculpture'' which provided an introduction to [[Palladian architecture]].

Cole started a dynasty of engravers to the Freemasons. His son Benjamin (1725-1813), was apprenticed to his father in 1739. Another son, William, worked as engraver to the [[Bank of England]], and took over control and production of the freemasons' engraved lists in 1767. William’s son, John, founded a ‘Masonic Printing Office’ in London.

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