Thomas Payne

Thomas Payne "Honest Tom Payne" (c1718 - 1799), was a well-known bookseller in 18th century London. He was born in Brackley, Northamptonshire. From 1750 he ran a shop Castle Street, Leicester Fields. The premises were notoriously small, but exceptionally popular with the literati of that period. Refered to as the "Literary Coffee House" the shop became a sort of club during the day for discussions on all subjects. 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

(not to be confused with Thomas Paine (author of the Rights of Man)

sources

• David Stoker, ‘Payne, Thomas (1716x18 –1799)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004
• Victoria County History Middlesex Vol VI Finchley