John Langlands I

John Langlands was a Newcastle based silversmith. He was part of the Langlands family who were the largest silver-plate producers in Newcastle for 60 years. John Langlands started in partnership with John Goodrick, taking over the business of their master Isaac Cookson when he died in 1754. When Goodrick died in 1757, Langlands carried on and the business continued to thrive. He went into partnership with John Robertson I in 1778 until 1795. When the partnership was dissolved (two years after his death in 1793), his wife, Margaret, ran things in the meantime. Langlands son, Robert II, took over the business and it continued to produce high quality silver plate. His widow Dorothy took over after his death in 1804 and continued until her retirement in 1814. The Langlands and Robertson partnership was very prolific, and they became renowned sugar tong makers rivalling good London producers of the same period. They entered marks in 1778 and 1780 and continued to use both, so dating their pieces can be difficult on marks alone.