John Sotheby

John Sotheby (1740 – 1 November 1807) was an English auctioneer who is the eponym of Sotheby's auction house.

John Sotheby
Born	1740 Britain
Died	1 November 1807(1807-11-01) (aged 66–67) Chigwell, Essex, England
Occupation	auctioneer
Known for	namesake of Sotheby’s auction house
Spouse	Elizabeth Cotton
Parent(s)	John Sotheby and Anne Baker

Early life

Sotheby was born in 1740 in England to John Sotheby (1703–1775) and Anne Baker. The Sotheby family originally came from Yorkshire, England.^[1]

Background

Auction house Baker and Leigh was founded in London on 11 March 1744. He was the nephew of Samuel Baker, who was the founder of the book auctioneering firm that later became Sotheby's.

After his uncle's death in 1778, John became a partner in his book auctioneering firm along with George Leigh. He expanded the scope of the firm’s business to include the sale of prints, medals, coins, and rare antiquities.^[2]

Personal life

Sotheby died on 1 November 1807 in Chigwell, Essex.^[3]