Charles Knight (publisher)
Encyclopedia
Charles Knight was an English publisher and author.
, he was apprenticed to his father. On completion of his indentures he took up journalism
and had an interest in several newspaper speculations, including the Windsor, Slough and Eton Express.
In 1823, in conjunction with friends he had made as publisher (1820–1821) of The Etonian, he started Knight's Quarterly Magazine, to which Winthrop Mackworth Praed
, Derwent Coleridge
and Thomas Macaulay contributed. It lasted for only six issues, but it made Knight's name as publisher and author, beginning a career which lasted over forty years. One of his early publications was the diary of the naval chaplain Henry Teonge
(c. 1620-1690).
, for which he projected and edited The British Almanack and Companion, begun in 1828. In 1829 he resumed business on his own account with the publication of The Library of Entertaining Knowledge, writing several volumes of the series himself. In 1832 and 1833 he started The Penny Magazine and The Penny Cyclopaedia, both of which had a large circulation. The Penny Cyclopaedia, as a result of the heavy excise
duty, was only completed in 1844 at a financial loss.
Besides many illustrated editions of standard works, including in 1842 an edition of the works of William Shakespeare
entitled The Pictorial Shakspere, which had appeared in parts (1838–1841), Knight published a variety of illustrated works, such as Old England and The Land we Live in and The Pictorial Gallery of Arts - Useful Arts, the latter based on the Great Exhibition of 1851. He also undertook the series known as Weekly Volumes, himself contributing the first volume, a biography of William Caxton
. Many famous books, Harriet Martineau
's Tales, Anna Brownell Jameson
's Early Italian Painters and G. H. Lewes
's Biographical History of Philosophy, appeared for the first time in this series.
In 1853 Knight became editor of The English Cyclopaedia, essentially a revision of The Penny Cyclopaedia. Knight also launched the Local Government Chronicle
in 1855, and at about the same time he began his Popular History of England (8 vols., 1856–1862). In 1864 he withdrew from the business of publisher, but he continued to write nearly to the close of his long life, publishing The Shadows of the Old Booksellers (1865), an autobiography under the title Passages of a Working Life during Half a Century (2 vols., 1864–1865), and an historical novel, Begg'd at Court (1867). He died at Addlestone
, Surrey
.
Early life
The son of a bookseller and printer at WindsorWindsor, Berkshire
Windsor is an affluent suburban town and unparished area in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is widely known as the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family....
, he was apprenticed to his father. On completion of his indentures he took up journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
and had an interest in several newspaper speculations, including the Windsor, Slough and Eton Express.
In 1823, in conjunction with friends he had made as publisher (1820–1821) of The Etonian, he started Knight's Quarterly Magazine, to which Winthrop Mackworth Praed
Winthrop Mackworth Praed
Winthrop Mackworth Praed was an English politician and poet.-Early life:He was born in London. The family name of Praed was derived from the marriage of the poet's great-grandfather to a Cornish heiress. Winthrop's father, William Mackworth Praed, was a serjeant-at-law. His mother belonged to the...
, Derwent Coleridge
Derwent Coleridge
Derwent Coleridge , third child of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, was a distinguished English scholar and author.-Early life:Derwent Coleridge was born at Keswick, Cumberland, 14 Sept. 1800 . He was sent with his brother Hartley to be educated at a small school near Ambleside...
and Thomas Macaulay contributed. It lasted for only six issues, but it made Knight's name as publisher and author, beginning a career which lasted over forty years. One of his early publications was the diary of the naval chaplain Henry Teonge
Henry Teonge
Henry Teonge was an English cleric and Royal Navy chaplain who kept informative diaries of voyages he made in 1675–76 and 1678–79.-Life:...
(c. 1620-1690).
Editor
In 1827 Knight was forced to give up publishing, and became the superintendent of the publications of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful KnowledgeSociety for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge
The Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge , founded in 1826, and wound up in 1848, was a Whiggish London organisation that published inexpensive texts intended to adapt scientific and similarly high-minded material for the rapidly expanding reading public...
, for which he projected and edited The British Almanack and Companion, begun in 1828. In 1829 he resumed business on his own account with the publication of The Library of Entertaining Knowledge, writing several volumes of the series himself. In 1832 and 1833 he started The Penny Magazine and The Penny Cyclopaedia, both of which had a large circulation. The Penny Cyclopaedia, as a result of the heavy excise
Excise
Excise tax in the United States is a indirect tax on listed items. Excise taxes can be and are made by federal, state and local governments and are far from uniform throughout the United States...
duty, was only completed in 1844 at a financial loss.
Besides many illustrated editions of standard works, including in 1842 an edition of the works of William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
entitled The Pictorial Shakspere, which had appeared in parts (1838–1841), Knight published a variety of illustrated works, such as Old England and The Land we Live in and The Pictorial Gallery of Arts - Useful Arts, the latter based on the Great Exhibition of 1851. He also undertook the series known as Weekly Volumes, himself contributing the first volume, a biography of William Caxton
William Caxton
William Caxton was an English merchant, diplomat, writer and printer. As far as is known, he was the first English person to work as a printer and the first to introduce a printing press into England...
. Many famous books, Harriet Martineau
Harriet Martineau
Harriet Martineau was an English social theorist and Whig writer, often cited as the first female sociologist....
's Tales, Anna Brownell Jameson
Anna Brownell Jameson
Anna Brownell Jameson was a British writer.-Biography:Jameson was born in Dublin.Her father, Denis Brownell Murphy , was a miniature and enamel painter...
's Early Italian Painters and G. H. Lewes
George Henry Lewes
George Henry Lewes was an English philosopher and critic of literature and theatre. He became part of the mid-Victorian ferment of ideas which encouraged discussion of Darwinism, positivism, and religious scepticism...
's Biographical History of Philosophy, appeared for the first time in this series.
In 1853 Knight became editor of The English Cyclopaedia, essentially a revision of The Penny Cyclopaedia. Knight also launched the Local Government Chronicle
Local Government Chronicle
Local Government Chronicle is a British weekly magazine for local government officers, and is published by Emap. The magazine was launched in 1855 by bookseller and publisher Charles Knight...
in 1855, and at about the same time he began his Popular History of England (8 vols., 1856–1862). In 1864 he withdrew from the business of publisher, but he continued to write nearly to the close of his long life, publishing The Shadows of the Old Booksellers (1865), an autobiography under the title Passages of a Working Life during Half a Century (2 vols., 1864–1865), and an historical novel, Begg'd at Court (1867). He died at Addlestone
Addlestone
Addlestone is a town in the borough of Runnymede in the county of Surrey, England.Immediate surrounding towns and villages include Weybridge, Ottershaw, Chertsey, and New Haw. It is near Junction 11 of the M25 motorway and is served by Addlestone railway station on the Chertsey Branch Line. It also...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
.
Legacy
Charles Knight is considered to be the first person to propose the use of stamped newspaper wrappers in 1834, so stands as their "inventor".External links
- An 1842 map distributed by the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge and published by Charles Knight, Central America. II. Including Texas, California, and the northern states of Mexico / J. & C. Walker, sculpt. hosted by the Portal to Texas History.
- Engravings from Charles Knight's books, including Picturesque Old England, are online at www.fromoldbooks.org together with some of the text.