William Hutton

author

William Hutton

1723–1815

Born into hardship and largely self-educated, this energetic bookseller turned himself into one of Birmingham’s earliest great storytellers. His writing mixes local history with the sharp eye of someone who had lived every inch of the city’s growth.

1 Audiobook

An History of Birmingham (1783)

An History of Birmingham (1783)

by William Hutton

About the author

William Hutton was an English poet, bookseller, and historian born in Derby on September 30, 1723, and remembered as the first significant historian of Birmingham. After a difficult childhood and years of labor, he moved to Birmingham, built a successful business in books and paper, and gradually made himself into a writer.

He is best known for The History of Birmingham (1781), a lively account of the town written by someone who knew its streets, people, and trade firsthand. His work helped preserve the story of a fast-changing industrial city, and he also wrote on subjects including Roman Britain and travel.

What makes him especially appealing is the shape of his life: he rose from poverty through persistence, curiosity, and a love of reading. That mix of practical experience and self-taught learning gives his books an approachable, personal voice that still stands out today.