(b Roxbury, Massachusetts, 1813; d Amesbury, Massachusetts, 1888) American lithographer. Currier was an apprentice to William S. and John Pendleton at America’s first lithographic company when he was fifteen years old. In 1834 he created his own printing company, Currier and Ives. James Merritt Ives was originally hired as a bookkeeper, but was made a full partner in 1857. At one time the firm was one of the most popular producers of lithographs depicting current events. Currier and Ives remained in business until 1907 through the management of the partners’ sons.
