Charles Knight (publisher)
Charles Knight was born on the 15th of March 1791 in Windsor. He began his working life as an apprentice to his father, a bookseller and printer at that same town. This early training provided the foundation for a career spanning over forty years. In 1823 he launched Knight's Quarterly Magazine with friends from his publishing days. The magazine featured contributions from Winthrop Mackworth Praed and Thomas Macaulay. It ran for only six issues before closing its doors. Despite its short run, this venture established Knight's reputation as both publisher and author. He also published the diary of naval chaplain Henry Teonge in 1825. That work covered events aboard ships between 1675 and 1679.
Knight resumed independent business operations in 1829 by launching The Library of Entertaining Knowledge. Two major projects followed shortly after in 1832 and 1833. These were The Penny Magazine and The Penny Cyclopaedia. The Penny Magazine achieved remarkable circulation figures reaching 200,000 copies within its first year. This success demonstrated a strong public appetite for affordable educational material. The Penny Cycloea faced significant financial challenges due to heavy paper taxes. It was not completed until 1844 despite costing £40,000 in losses. Knight edited London in three volumes during 1841. This heavily illustrated history of the city became another key publication in his portfolio.
His approach to publishing emphasized visual content alongside text. In 1842 he released an edition of William Shakespeare's works titled The Pictorial Shakspere. This standard edition appeared in parts from 1838 through 1841. He also published Old England and The Land We Live In as illustrated series. The Pictorial Gallery of Arts drew inspiration from the Great Exhibition held in 1851. Knight took out a patent in 1838 for improvements in colored surface printing processes. This invention allowed for better production of colored impressions on various materials like paper and vellum. His Weekly Volume for All Readers included biographies of historical figures such as William Caxton and Sir Thomas Gresham.
Knight died on the 9th of March 1873 at Addlestone in Surrey. He was buried in Windsor adjacent to Bachelors Acre cemetery. A gateway was erected there in his memory shortly after his death. His many reference books intended for general audiences marked him as a pioneer. He is remembered today for making knowledge accessible to ordinary readers. His career began in apprenticeship and ended with widespread recognition. The Royal Windsor Web Site
maintains a biography series about him. His legacy endures through the numerous publications he produced over four decades.
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Common questions
When was Charles Knight born and where did he start his career?
Charles Knight was born on the 15th of March 1791 in Windsor. He began his working life as an apprentice to his father, a bookseller and printer at that same town.
What major publications did Charles Knight launch between 1823 and 1844?
Charles Knight launched Knight's Quarterly Magazine in 1823 which ran for six issues before closing. He later published The Penny Magazine and The Penny Cyclopaedia starting in 1832 with the latter not completed until 1844 despite costing £40,000 in losses.
How did Charles Knight contribute to printing technology during his career?
Charles Knight took out a patent in 1838 for improvements in colored surface printing processes. This invention allowed for better production of colored impressions on various materials like paper and vellum.
Which historical works did Charles Knight author after withdrawing from active publishing in 1864?
After withdrawing from active publishing in 1864 Charles Knight wrote Passages of a Working Life during Half a Century across three volumes from 1864 to 1865. He also released an historical novel called Begg'd at Court in 1867.
When and where did Charles Knight die and how was he commemorated?
Charles Knight died on the 9th of March 1873 at Addlestone in Surrey. He was buried in Windsor adjacent to Bachelors Acre cemetery where a gateway was erected there in his memory shortly after his death.