William Simms

William Simms (December 7, 1793 - June 21, 1860) was a British manufacturer of scientific instruments. He was born in Birmingham, the second of nine children of William Simms (1763-1828), a toy maker. Shortly after the birth of William Simm, the family moved to London so that William Simms Sr. could help his sick father, James Simms, who had a jewelry business on Whitecross Street. This business was soon transformed into the manufacture of optical instruments. William Sr. thrived, and in 1804 he was elected Free City. William Simms, Jr. was sent in January 1806 by Mr. Hayward to teach mathematics. After two years of training in January 1808, he was a student of Thomas Penstone, a member of the Worthy Company of Jewelers. However, William's interests were elsewhere, and in 1808 he was a disciple of his father. In 1815, he was elected Freeman of the Honorable Society of Jewelers and founded his business, working until 1818 in the premises of his father Blackfriars. His older brother James was already building a reputation for navigation. The main interest of William Simms was the division of the circle, the accuracy of which was necessary for the manufacture of accurate scientific instruments. He became a correspondent for Thomas Jones, who introduced him to tool maker Edward Troton and persuaded him to join the Royal Society for the Promotion of Art, Production, and Commerce. Here he met engineer Brian Donkin, as well as Colonel Colby from Ammunition. Simms became a partner of Truton in 1826 and after retirement took over his business, which had a very good reputation in the production of scientific instruments. Simms died in a family house in Carsholton on June 21, 1860, and was buried in the western Norwood cemetery. His family, especially his son James Simms, continued to do instrumentation.