Firmin Didot (c. 1765-1836) was a third generation printer of the venerable Didot family in Paris. His Grandfather, François Didot (1689 1757), established the print/type foundry and bookselling business in 1713.

François' eldest son, François-Ambroise (1730-1804), left his own mark on type history with technological advances in punch cutting and mold making. François-Ambroise also established the point system of type measurement, 12 pt or 24 pt type rather than the use of classical names like "parisienne".

François-Ambroise's sons Firmin and Pierre took over the business and continued accelerating print technology. Firmin invented the process of stereotyping, as well as coining that phrase. Stereotyping involves casting a metal printing plate from printed material, i.e. a page from a book. Stereotyping allowed the publication and reprint of books at greatly reduced costs.

In 1783 Firmin created the Didot typeface and ushered in the Modern style. Didot type diverged with previous typefaces by abandoning the hand penned style in favor of a cleaner more precise vertical stroke, extremely thin hairlines and strict horizontal serifs with almost no bracketing. The Didot typeface personifies the neoclassical motif that permeated French culture from pre-revolutionary days through the age of Napoleon.

During Firmin's very active life, printing had elevated to an art form that was spearheaded by the House of Didot. Between 1801 to 1805 Firmin published a monumental 12 volume series titled Racine, which showed all manner of human costume and dress from around the world. Not only did Racine receive prizes in 1806 but forty years later it was judged the most perfect typographical production of all countries and all times at the London Universal Exhibition in 1851.

Firmin Didot was appointed Director of the Imperial Foundry by Napoleon in 1814, a position he held until his death.

Today the Didot typeface appears on the cover of Harper's Bazaar and the television show Ally McBeal.

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