Gutenberg was born in the German city of Mainz. He started his working life as a merchant, but then moved into work as a blacksmith and goldsmith.
At one point, Gutenberg became heavily indebted due to a failed investment in holy mirrors. It is said he promised his creditors that they could have a share in his new printing press he was working on. It is also said the idea for the printing press, came like a flash of light, though this may have been an embellished story added at a later day.
Johannes Gutenberg Biography