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There has been a long history of skeptical thought and enquiry in Birmingham. One of those thinkers was a Birmingham entrepreneur called John Baskerville who is most famous for the publishing house he set up in later life and for his work on designing new fonts and dies for use in his press. He is less celebrated for his objection to revealed religion.

When he was seventeen Baskerville came to Birmingham to earn a living.  Birmingham was noted for its varied manufacturers but more noted for its freedom, by which it seemed to have the power of attracting artisans of every trade and every degree of skill. It allowed almost perfect freedom to all: Dissenters, Baptists, Methodists, Roman Catholics, Jews, Quakers and Heretics of all sorts were welcomed. It was into this open and questioning atmosphere a young Baskerville came. He was a free thinker, entrepreneurial, industrious and above all ambitious.

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