Jean de Tournes

Jean de Tournes was a French printer, book publisher and bookseller, and the founder of a long-lasting family printing business.

He was a native of Lyon and in his hometown he was apprenticed in the printing workshop of Gaspard and Melchior Trechsel, and then worked for about ten years as a compositor in the workshops of Sébastien Gryphe. De Tournes set up his own shop in 1542 where, as a learned humanist, he published editions of works of both ancient and modern authors. Georges Riverdy worked for him as an engraver until 1547, and after he used the services of the noted engraver Bernard Salomon. In 1545 de Tournes converted to Protestantism, but remained cautious as the French monarchs tried to suppress the Protestant Reformation. He even became imprimeur du Roi, printer to the French king, from 1558.

Jean de Tournes died of plague in Lyon in 1564, and was succeeded in business by his son Jean de Tournes, who had to move to Geneva in order to escape religious persecution during the French Wars of Religion.