Henry Colburn

• 1. Origins And Apprenticeship

  ›

  Henry Colburn entered the world in 1784, though records offer no clarity on his parentage or early years. The London Metropolitan Archives Parish Registers list his age at death as 65, while the 1851 census claims he was 66 and born in Chelsea. This discrepancy fuels speculation that he may have been the illegitimate son of an Englishman by a French mother. He possessed fluency in French and enough capital to enter publishing at a young age. On the 1st of June 1800, he became an apprentice printer indentured for six years to William Earle. The contract cost £1,000 and took place in Albemarle Street, London. Earle ran an established library dealing in both English and foreign languages. By 1806, Colburn acquired Morgan's circulating library located on Conduit Street. From this base, he published his first books, including translated works from French and German light novelists. Many of these novels appeared in their original language under the imprint Chez Colburn before being reissued in translation.

• 2. The Silver Fork Phenomenon

  ›

  In 1816, Henry Colburn achieved a major success with Lady Caroline Lamb's novel Glenarvon. The book went through four editions and sold very well despite its controversial nature. A furious attack in the Quarterly Review in April 1817 did more good than harm to the book's reputation. This publication marked the beginning of what would become known as the silver fork novel genre. These fashionable novels gave readers the thrill of peering into the lifestyles of rich and aristocratic families. In 1827, Colburn published one of the first science fiction novels, The Mummy! A Tale of the Twenty-Second Century by Jane Webb. He also released Lady Morgan's France in 1817, another early successful venture. William Hazlitt coined the phrase silver fork to describe this fashionable mode of social fiction. Colburn became a major purveyor of this literary style that captivated Victorian society.

• 3. Periodical Empire Building

  ›

  With support from Frederic Shoberl, Colburn launched the New Monthly Magazine in 1814. It served as a rival to Sir Richard Phillips' old Monthly Magazine. John Watkins and Alaric Alexander Watts were among the early editors. Thomas Campbell took care of a new series beginning in 1820. Bulwer Lytton edited the magazine in 1832, followed by Theodore Hook and Harrison Ainsworth in the third series starting in 1836. The publication continued until 1875. On the 25th of January 1817, Colburn issued the first number of the Literary Gazette at one shilling per copy. This was the earliest weekly newspaper devoted to literature, science, and arts to gain reputation and authority. Hannibal Evans Lloyd and Thomasina Ross initially served as joint editors. William Paulet Carey oversaw the fine arts department. After twenty-six numbers on the 19th of July 1817, William Jerdan purchased a third share and became sole editor. Longman also bought a third share, making the periodical rapidly successful. In 1842, Jerdan became sole proprietor before the Gazette merged with the Parthenon in 1862.

• 4. Historical Archives And Diaries

  ›

  Following the success of Glenarvon and France, Colburn published the first edition of John Evelyn's Diary in 1818. He later released Richard Griffin, 3rd Baron Braybrooke's edition of Pepys's Diary in 1825. Expanded editions appeared in 1848-49 and 1854. These historical documents formed part of his significant output of archival material. At the height of Theodore Hook's London career, Colburn offered him £600 for a novel. The result was Sayings and Doings published in 1824, selling six thousand copies across three volumes. In 1827, he published Thomas Skinner Sturr's anonymous Richmond, or stories in the life of a Bow Street officer. This work represented the earliest collection of detective stories available to readers. Colburn also issued The Posthumous Works of Anne Radcliffe in 1826, featuring Gaston de Blondeville and A Memoir of The Authoress as the first known biographical work on Mrs. Radcliffe.

• 5. Military And Naval History

  ›

  Colburn established The Naval and Military Library of Entertainment: A Series of Works from the Pens of Distinguished Officers in 1834. This twenty-volume series contained works by Marryat, Gleig, and other lesser-known authors covering nonfiction subjects like travel and memoirs. The collection included military-related fiction particularly suited to the taste and pursuits of Army and Navy members. He published several important works on British naval history including Edward Pelham Brenton's The Naval History of Great Britain in 1837. Life and Correspondence of John, Earl of St. Vincent appeared in 1838. Sir Nicholas Harris Nicolas's seven-volume The Dispatches and Letters of Vice Admiral Lord Viscount Nelson ran from 1844 to 1846. These publications catered specifically to armed forces interests while maintaining literary quality for general audiences.

• 6. Business Partnerships And Retirement

  ›

  In 1830, Colburn took his printer Richard Bentley into a partnership that dissolved in August 1832. After briefly setting up business at Windsor, he paid a forfeiture for breaking the covenant not to commence publishing within twenty miles of London. He then opened a house in Great Marlborough Street. Colburn finally retired from business in favor of Messrs. Hurst & Blackett but kept his name attached to select books. These included Elliot Warburton's Crescent and the Cross, the Diaries of Evelyn and Pepys, Agnes Strickland's Lives, and Burke's Peerage. Their copyrights went to auction at Southgate & Barrett on the 26th of May 1857, producing about £14,000. He amassed a considerable fortune with property sworn as under £35,000. Colburn died at his house in Bryanston Square on the 16th of August 1855. He was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery after leaving behind Eliza Anne, only daughter of Captain Crosbie who survived him.