William Bradford (printer, born 1663)

William Bradford
William Bradford gravesite
Born	(1663-05-20)May 20, 1663 Barwell, Leicestershire, England
Died	May 23, 1752(1752-05-23) (aged 89) New York City, British America
Resting place	Trinity Church Cemetery
Occupation	Printer
Spouse	Elizabeth Sowel
Children	Andrew Bradford
Relatives	William Bradford (grandson)

William Bradford (May 20, 1663 – May 23, 1752) was an early American colonial printer and publisher in British America. Bradford is best known for establishing the first printing press in the Middle colonies of the Thirteen Colonies, founding the first press in Pennsylvania in 1685 and the first press in New York in 1693. Bradford operated continuously printing establishments for sixty-two years, heading a family that would include printers and publishers for 140 years. He was also known for controversies regarding freedom of the press. Starting his printing career in London, Bradford emigrated to America in 1685. He established, with others, the first paper mill to appear in the Thirteen American Colonies.

Throughout his career, Bradford printed and published thousands of titles. In addition to his print shops in the province of Pennsylvania, the province of New York, the province of New Jersey, he also had five different locations in New York City. Printing almanacs, newspapers, books, pamphlets, broadsides, blank forms, paper money, legal documents, colonial laws, and religious material, Bradford was also the public printer for the province of New York and province of New Jersey.