It appears that Chippendale was married to Catherine Redshaw, of Saint Martin's in the Field, May 19, 1748, and that in 1749 he had a shop in Conduit Street, Long Acre, London, and removed from there, in 1753, to 60 Saint Martin's Lane, where he took over three houses adjoining his own. That his shop was large and his business prosperous would appear from a notice in the Gentleman's Magazine of April 5, 1755, which reads as follows:

"A fire broke out in the workshop of Mr. Chippendale, a cabinet-maker near Saint Martin's Lane, which consumed the same, wherein were the chests of 22 workmen."

Twenty-two workmen would indicate at least a small factory. In 1760 he was elected a member of the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. He was in partnership for a time with James Rannil, who died in 1766, after which date Chippendale advertises to conduct the business on his own account. He died November 13, 1779, and his widow Elizabeth, apparent]) his second wife, was granted letters of administration.

The oldest son, Thomas, succeeded to the business with Thomas Haig, who had been .1 book-keeper in the firm, under the firm name of Chippendale & Haig, until 1700. Chippendale, Jr., died in 1822. The date of Chippendale'l birth is a matter of conjecture. He must have had a well-established business at fifty, and if he lived the allotted span of seventy years he must have been born about 1709, which would have made him forty-one years old in 1750, which seems probable. It will, at any rate, be seen that as a young man he must have been familiar with the published designs above referred to, and his own designs, first published in 1754, bear out this supposition, for he refers to the fact that designers have paid but little attention to rules of architecture. He appears to have been at first a cabinet-maker, but as his business prospered it developed into that of interior decoration, and he executed not only his own but the designs of architects such as Adam Brothers. The writer has in his possession a copy of a bill rendered by Chippendale to Sir Roland Winn, Bart., for furniture, draperies, carpets, papering, and interior decoration for Nostel Abbey, covering the years 1766-70. Some of the pieces described in this bill will be illustrated in the text, and they show that by this time Chippendale had departed from the French and had adopted more of the classical style then coming into vogue.

"The Gentleman and Cabinet-maker's Director" was advertised for sale in the Gentleman's Magazine in 1754 in book form. The writer has been unable to find any reference to the second edition except by inference from the advertisements of the third edition. The third edition was not at first published in book form, but in folios, each containing four copper plates at is. each. On August 21, 1759, the following advertisement appears in the London Chronicle:

Saturday, October 6 will be published No. I, being Four Folio Copper Plates, price 1s,

THE GENTLEMAN'S and CABINET MAKER'S DIRECTOR. To be continued Weekly and the whole completed in Fifty Numbers,

By THOMAS CHIPPENDALE, Cabinet Maker in St. Martin's Lane.

The kind Reception this work has already met with, renders any Apology for its Republication needless, and has encouraged the Author to revise and improve several of the Plates first published and to add Fifty new ones; containing some Designs of Chimney pieces, Lanthorns, and Chandeliers, for Halls and Stair Cases. Likewise various Designs of Household Furniture, both useful and ornamental.

N. B. Scales and Dimensions are annexed, and with the last number will be given Explanation and ample Illustrations in Letter-press for the Workman. Those who purchased the first Edition may have the additional Plates separate.

On October 6, 1759, appears in the same paper the following:

This day were published,

No. I of the Third Edition being Four Folio Copper-plates, printed on Royal Paper, Price 1 s.

THE GENTLEMAN'S and CABINET MAKER'S DIRECTOR. To be continued Weekly, and the whole completed in Fifty Numbers.

By THOMAS CHIPPENDALE, Cabinet Maker, in St. Martin's Lane.

The kind Reception this Work has already met with, renders any Apology for its Republication needless; and has encouraged the Author to revise and improve several of the Plates first published, and to add Fifty New ones; containing some Designs of Chimney-pieces, Lanthorns, and Chandeliers, for Halls and Stair Cases. Likewise various Designs of Household Furniture, both useful and ornamental, adapted to the present Taste. The Author being determined to exert the utmost of his Abilities to make this Work more complete and worthy of the Encouragement of the Publick.

To be had of the Author; and of Robert Sayer, opposite Fetter-lane, Fleet Street; and of all the Booksellers in Great Britain and Ireland.

The various parts were thereafter advertised as published, about a week apart, until Number XXV had appeared.

On March 28, 1760, the following advertisement appears:

St. Martin's Lane, March 28, 1760.

Mr. CHIPPENDALE begs leave to acquaint those Noblemen, Gentlemen and others, who have honoured him with their Subscriptions to his DESIGNS of HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE, that he is obliged to defer the Publication thereof for a few Weeks, both on Account of his indifferent State of Health, and to allow him Time for the Executing some NEW DESIGNS, with which he intends to embellish his said Work.