Colin Macfarquhar facts for kids
Colin Macfarquhar (born around 1744 or 1745 – died April or May 1793) was a Scottish bookseller and printer. He is best known for helping to create the Encyclopædia Britannica. He started this famous encyclopedia with Andrew Bell in December 1768. Even today, the exact dates of his birth and death are not fully known.
Contents
Who Was Colin Macfarquhar?
Colin Macfarquhar was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. His father, James Macfarquhar, was a wigmaker, and his mother was Margaret. Colin's formal schooling ended when he became an apprentice at a printing company.
Early Life and Training
He worked hard and became a master printer in 1767. This meant he was skilled enough to run his own printing business. On December 13, 1767, Colin married Jane Scruton. Her father, James Scruton, was an accountant in Glasgow. Colin and Jane had five children together: one son and four daughters.
Starting the Encyclopædia Britannica
About a year or two after getting married, Colin Macfarquhar opened his own printing shop in Edinburgh. This shop was located on Nicolson Street. It was here that the very first edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica was sold.
What is the Encyclopædia Britannica?
The Encyclopædia Britannica is one of the oldest and most famous encyclopedias in the English language. An encyclopedia is a large collection of books or articles that contain information on many different subjects. It helps people learn about history, science, art, and much more. Colin Macfarquhar also played a big part in creating the second and third editions of this important work.
