Major, John
John Major (fl. c. 1835 – 1854) was a New York based engraver and lithographer active in the middle part of the 19th century. Major began his career in New York as an engraver in 1835. In 1839, he adapted to the new innovation of lithography, founding John Major's Lithography with offices at 49 Wall Street. From 1850 his partner in the lithography business was Daniel Major, perhaps his son. They jointly acquired the lithography business of Peter Mesier, also based at 49 wall street, in 1850. It is unclear how exactly John Major was connected to the family of James Major, Henry Broughman Major, and Alfred Sarony Major, who were business partners with acclaimed lithographer and photographer Napoleon Sarony in the New York City lithographic printing world at the same time, a question complicated by the closeness of the names of John and James Major. But it seems very likely that John Major was part of the same extended family.
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