Early Life
He was born in Birmingham, the second of nine children of William Simms (1763-1828), an instrument maker. Soon after William Simm's birth the family moved to London so that William Simms Sr. could his ailing father, James Simms, who had a jewellery business in Whitecross Street. This business was soon converted to the manufacture of optical instruments. William Sr. prospered and in 1804 he was elected a Freeman of the City.
William Simms Jr. was sent in January 1806 to be educated in mathematics by a Mr. Hayward. After two years education in January 1808 he was apprenticed to Thomas Penstone, a member of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths. However William's interests lay elsewhere and in 1809 he was apprenticed to a Mr. Bennett, a former employee of Jesse Ramsden.
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