Adam BlackFRSE (20 February 1784 – 24 January 1874) was a Scottish publisher and politician. He founded the A & C Black publishing company, and published the 7th, 8th and 9th editions of the Encyclopædia Britannica.[1]
Black was born in Charles Street, Edinburgh, the son of Isabella Nicol and Charles Black, a master builder.[2] He was educated at the Royal High School and the University of Edinburgh. After serving as an apprentice to Mr Fairbairn, an Edinburgh bookseller,[1] he began business for himself in Edinburgh in 1808. By 1826 he was recognised as one of the principal booksellers in the city; and a few years later he was joined in business by his nephew Charles.[3]
The two most important events connected with the history of the firm were the publication of the 7th, 8th and 9th editions of the Encyclopædia Britannica, and the purchase of the stock and copyright of the Waverley Novels. The copyright of the Encyclopaedia passed into the hands of Adam Black and a few friends in 1827.[3]
In 1832 his bookshop is given as 27 North Bridge in the Old Town and his home is given as 30 Broughton Place in the eastern New Town.[4] In 1851 the firm bought the copyright of the Waverley Novels for £27,000, and in 1861 they became the proprietors of De Quincey's works.[3]
Adam Black was twice Lord Provost of Edinburgh, and represented the city in parliament from 1856 to 1865. He retired from business in 1865, and died on 24 January 1874. He was succeeded by his sons, who removed their business in 1895 to London. In 1877 a bronze statue by John Hutchison of Adam Black was erected in East Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh.[3] He is buried in Warriston Cemetery on the outer face of the catacombs close to James Young Simpson.
Family
Black was married to Isabella Tait (1796–1877). Their children included Charles Bertram Black (1821–1906), Francis Black (1830–1892) and Adam William Black (1836–1898).
^ abcWaterston, Charles D; Macmillan Shearer, A (July 2006). Former Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 1783–2002: Biographical Index(PDF). Vol. I. Edinburgh: The Royal Society of Edinburgh. ISBN978-0-902198-84-5. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
^Millar, Gordon F. (23 September 2004). "Black, Adam (1784–1874), publisher and politician". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/2491. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ abcdOne or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Black, Adam". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 4 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 18.
adam, black, other, people, named, disambiguation, frse, february, 1784, january, 1874, scottish, publisher, politician, founded, black, publishing, company, published, editions, encyclopædia, britannica, frseportrait, john, watson, gordon, member, parliament,. For other people named Adam Black see Adam Black disambiguation Adam Black FRSE 20 February 1784 24 January 1874 was a Scottish publisher and politician He founded the A amp C Black publishing company and published the 7th 8th and 9th editions of the Encyclopaedia Britannica 1 Adam BlackFRSEPortrait by John Watson Gordon Member of Parliament for EdinburghIn office 1856 1865Personal detailsBorn 1784 02 20 20 February 1784Charles Street Edinburgh ScotlandDied24 January 1874 1874 01 24 aged 89 Edinburgh ScotlandResting placeWarriston CemeteryPolitical partyLiberalEducationRoyal High SchoolAlma materUniversity of EdinburghProfessionPublisher PoliticianBlack s house at 30 Broughton Place Edinburgh Statue of Adam Black in Princes Street Gardens Adam Black s grave in Warriston Cemetery Contents 1 Life 2 Family 3 Trained under Black 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksLife EditBlack was born in Charles Street Edinburgh the son of Isabella Nicol and Charles Black a master builder 2 He was educated at the Royal High School and the University of Edinburgh After serving as an apprentice to Mr Fairbairn an Edinburgh bookseller 1 he began business for himself in Edinburgh in 1808 By 1826 he was recognised as one of the principal booksellers in the city and a few years later he was joined in business by his nephew Charles 3 The two most important events connected with the history of the firm were the publication of the 7th 8th and 9th editions of the Encyclopaedia Britannica and the purchase of the stock and copyright of the Waverley Novels The copyright of the Encyclopaedia passed into the hands of Adam Black and a few friends in 1827 3 In 1832 his bookshop is given as 27 North Bridge in the Old Town and his home is given as 30 Broughton Place in the eastern New Town 4 In 1851 the firm bought the copyright of the Waverley Novels for 27 000 and in 1861 they became the proprietors of De Quincey s works 3 Adam Black was twice Lord Provost of Edinburgh and represented the city in parliament from 1856 to 1865 He retired from business in 1865 and died on 24 January 1874 He was succeeded by his sons who removed their business in 1895 to London In 1877 a bronze statue by John Hutchison of Adam Black was erected in East Princes Street Gardens Edinburgh 3 He is buried in Warriston Cemetery on the outer face of the catacombs close to James Young Simpson Family EditBlack was married to Isabella Tait 1796 1877 Their children included Charles Bertram Black 1821 1906 Francis Black 1830 1892 and Adam William Black 1836 1898 His granddaughter Eda Lawrie married the botanist Robert John Harvey Gibson Trained under Black EditWilliam Durham FRSE 1834 1893 was apprenticed under Black 1 References Edit a b c Waterston Charles D Macmillan Shearer A July 2006 Former Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 1783 2002 Biographical Index PDF Vol I Edinburgh The Royal Society of Edinburgh ISBN 978 0 902198 84 5 Retrieved 22 December 2011 Millar Gordon F 23 September 2004 Black Adam 1784 1874 publisher and politician Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 2491 Subscription or UK public library membership required a b c d One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Black Adam Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 4 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 18 Edinburgh Post Office annual directory 1832 1833 National Library of Scotland Retrieved 20 January 2018 Further reading EditAlexander Nicolson ed Memoirs of Adam Black 2nd ed Edinburgh 1885 External links EditHansard 1803 2005 contributions in Parliament by Adam BlackParliament of the United KingdomPreceded byCharles CowanThomas Babington Macaulay Member of Parliament for Edinburgh1856 1865 With Charles Cowan 1856 59James Moncreiff 1859 65 Succeeded byJames MoncreiffDuncan McLaren Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Adam Black amp oldid 1122432711, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
