Macmillan Publishers
Daniel and Alexander Macmillan opened their doors in London during 1843. The two brothers arrived from the Isle of Arran in Scotland to build a business that would outlast them. Daniel managed the finances while Alexander cultivated relationships with writers who shaped the era. They published Charles Kingsley in 1855 and Thomas Hughes in 1859. Their list grew to include Francis Turner Palgrave by 1861 and Christina Rossetti the following year. A pivotal meeting occurred on the 19th of October 1863 when Lewis Carroll first visited Alexander in London. This encounter led to the publication of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland on the 26th of November 1865. Rudyard Kipling joined the roster in 1890, bringing The Jungle Book to shelves in 1894. Alfred Lord Tennyson added his name to the company list in 1884. Matthew Arnold followed shortly after in 1865. The firm also launched Nature magazine in 1869 and the Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians in 1877. Sir Robert Harry Inglis Palgrave contributed the Dictionary of Political Economy between 1894 and 1899.
George Edward Brett established the first Macmillan office in the United States during 1869. The American branch operated independently for decades before a major transaction reshaped its future. George Platt Brett Sr. and George Platt Brett Jr. purchased the U.S. operations from the parent company in 1896. They formed an independent entity known as Macmillan Publishing or The Macmillan Company. Despite the separation, Harold Macmillan maintained close personal friendships with George Brett Jr. The British parent held a stake in the American company until 1951 when they divested completely. Re-entry into the American market occurred in 1952 under the new name St. Martin's Press. Macmillan of Canada was founded in 1905 and later acquired by Maclean-Hunter in 1973. Following numerous mergers, Macmillan Canada dissolved in 2002 after John Wiley & Co. took ownership. Pearson acquired the Macmillan name in America in 1998 following their purchase of the Simon & Schuster educational group. Holtzbrinck subsequently bought these properties from Pearson in 2001.
Harold Macmillan served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from the 10th of January 1957 to the 18th of October 1963. He began his career with the family firm as a junior partner between 1920 and 1940. During that period he also worked as Under-secretary of State for the Colonies. He returned to work with Macmillan Publishers from 1945 to 1951 while serving in opposition within Parliament. After retiring from politics in 1964, Harold became chairman of the company until 1974. He then handed the chairmanship to his son Maurice Macmillan. Maurice had previously served as Paymaster General in Edward Heath's defeated government. Within the company Maurice assumed the more honorary position of president until his death in December 1986. The connection between the political leader and the publishing house spanned over half a century. Harold remained chairman until his own passing in December 1986.
Macmillan became the sole owner of Pan Books during 1986. By 1990, Pan merged with the trade division of Macmillan to form Pan Macmillan. Holtzbrinck Publishing Group acquired both entities by 1999 making them wholly owned subsidiaries. The group now maintains offices in 41 countries worldwide with operations in more than 30 others. Pearson sold the American name to Holtzbrinck in 2001 after acquiring it from Simon & Schuster in 1998. The US operations changed their name to Macmillan in October 2007. Audio Renaissance was renamed Macmillan Audio while Von Holtzbrinck Publishers Services became Macmillan Publishers Services. Pan Macmillan purchased Kingfisher, a British children's publisher, from Houghton Mifflin in October 2007. Roaring Brook Press publisher Simon Boughton oversaw Kingfisher's US business. In 2023, Pan Macmillan acquired Harriman House, a business books publisher founded by Philip Jenks and Stephen Eckett in 1992.
By 2009 estimates placed e-books at 3 to 5 percent of total book sales. This segment grew faster than any other part of the market. Major publishers feared massive discounting by retailers like Amazon would devalue consumer willingness to pay. Macmillan introduced a new contract establishing a royalty of 20 percent of net proceeds on e-book sales. This rate sat five percent lower than most other major publishers. Apple announced the iPad on the 27th of January 2010 with access to the iBookstore. Macmillan gave Amazon two options regarding their digital products. They could continue selling based on the retailer's choice or switch to the agency model where prices are set by the publisher. Under the agency model both editions released simultaneously while Amazon received a 30 percent commission. Amazon responded by pulling all Macmillan books from their website including electronic and physical copies. On the 31st of January 2010 Amazon chose the agency model preferred by Macmillan. The United States Department of Justice filed United States v. Apple Inc. in April 2012 naming Apple, Macmillan, and four other major publishers as defendants. A federal judge approved a settlement in December 2013 requiring payments into a fund for customers who overpaid.
John Turner Sargent led Macmillan's consumer publishing operations in the US from New York City starting in 2012. Pan Macmillan announced plans to move from King's Cross to a new eight-storey headquarters in London's Clerkenwell during 2018. Libraries faced restrictions in November 2019 when Macmillan allowed only one copy of e-books for the first eight weeks after publication. This policy aimed to boost sales but prompted complaints and library boycotts. The company reversed the policy in March 2020. Pan Macmillan won Publisher of the Year at the British Book Awards in September 2020 for the third time in six years. CEO John Sargent departed at the end of 2020 following disagreements regarding direction. Stefan von Holtzbrinck made the decision to replace him. Joanna Prior succeeded Anthony Forbes-Watson as CEO of Pan Macmillan in the UK during September 2021. She described this appointment as a major move for women in book publishing leadership. Jon Yaged became CEO of Macmillan Publishers in the US in 2022 replacing Don Weisberg.
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Common questions
When did Daniel and Alexander Macmillan open their publishing company in London?
Daniel and Alexander Macmillan opened their doors in London during 1843. The two brothers arrived from the Isle of Arran in Scotland to build a business that would outlast them.
What major literary work did Macmillan Publishers release after Lewis Carroll visited on the 19th of October 1863?
Macmillan published Alice's Adventures in Wonderland on the 26th of November 1865 following the pivotal meeting with Lewis Carroll. This encounter led directly to the publication of this famous children's book.
How long did Harold Macmillan serve as chairman of Macmillan Publishers after retiring from politics?
Harold Macmillan served as chairman of the company until his own passing in December 1986. He retired from politics in 1964 and held the chairmanship for over two decades before handing it to his son Maurice Macmillan.
Which year did Macmillan become the sole owner of Pan Books and form Pan Macmillan?
Macmillan became the sole owner of Pan Books during 1986. By 1990, Pan merged with the trade division of Macmillan to form Pan Macmillan under the ownership of Holtzbrinck Publishing Group by 1999.
When did Amazon choose the agency model preferred by Macmillan regarding e-book sales?
Amazon chose the agency model preferred by Macmillan on the 31st of January 2010. The United States Department of Justice filed United States v. Apple Inc. in April 2012 naming Apple, Macmillan, and four other major publishers as defendants.