Henry Colburn facts for kids

Henry Colburn (born around 1784 – died August 16, 1855) was an important British publisher. He helped share many popular books and magazines with the public during his time.

Early Life and Start in Publishing

Not much is known about Henry Colburn's childhood or where he came from. He was very well-educated and could speak French fluently. He also had enough money at a young age to start his own publishing business. Some people think he might have been the son of an Englishman and a French mother.

Colburn first worked as an apprentice printer in London starting in 1800. He learned the ropes at a bookstore called William Earle's, which sold both English and foreign language books. In 1806, he bought a book-lending business called Morgan's circulating library. This is where he began publishing his first books. Many of these were popular novels translated from French and German. He even published some French novels in their original language first.

Big Successes and New Ideas

Colburn had an early big hit in 1816 with a novel called Glenarvon by Lady Caroline Lamb. This book was a "roman à clef," meaning it told a story with fictional characters who were actually based on real, famous people. It caused a lot of buzz and sold very well. Another early success was Lady Morgan's France in 1817. Even a strong negative review of France actually helped the book sell more!

Glenarvon was a sign of Colburn's clever idea: the "silver fork novel." These were popular books that let readers peek into the fancy lives of rich and aristocratic families. It was like reading gossip about the wealthy! In 1827, he also published one of the first science fiction novels, The Mummy! A Tale of the Twenty-Second Century. This book was written by Jane Webb (later known as Jane C. Loudon).

By 1824, Colburn separated his publishing business from the library. He moved his main office to a new street in London. In 1830, he partnered with his printer, Richard Bentley, but this partnership ended a couple of years later. Colburn eventually retired from the business. However, his name stayed on some famous books, like the Diaries of Evelyn and Pepys, and Burke's Peerage, which lists noble families. He became quite wealthy from his publishing career.

Magazines and Newspapers

Henry Colburn was also a pioneer in the world of magazines and newspapers. These are called "periodicals."

In 1814, he launched New Monthly Magazine, and Universal Register. This magazine was a competitor to an older one. It had several famous editors over the years, including Thomas Campbell and Bulwer Lytton. The magazine continued to be published until 1875.

Colburn started the Literary Gazette in 1817. This was one of the first weekly newspapers focused on literature, science, and the arts that became very well-known and respected. Later, William Jerdan became its main editor and owner.

Colburn also started other important publications:

• In 1827, he joined a new literary magazine called the Athenaeum.
• In 1828, he founded the Court Journal, which focused on high society news.
• In 1829, he launched the United Service Magazine and Naval and Military Journal, for people interested in the army and navy.
• He also had some involvement with the Sunday Times newspaper.

Colburn was very clever in business. For example, he took over a journal called the London Weekly Review and smartly renamed it the Court Journal. This helped it become more popular.

Important Books He Published

After the success of Glenarvon and France, Colburn published the first edition of John Evelyn's Diary in 1818. This was followed by Pepys's Diary in 1825. These diaries gave readers a look into the past lives of important people.

He also published Sayings and Doings (1824) by Theodore Hook, which sold thousands of copies. In 1827, he published one of the earliest collections of detective stories.

In 1826, Colburn published The Posthumous Works of Anne Radcliffe. This included her novel Gaston de Blondeville and the first known biography about her.

Colburn was a main publisher of the "fashionable novel" style, also known as "Silver Fork" novels. These books focused on the social lives of the upper class.

He also created several book series:

• Colburn's Modern Standard Novelists (1835–1841) included works by famous writers like Thomas Campbell and Bulwer Lytton.
• The Naval and Military Library of Entertainment (1834) featured stories and memoirs by officers, perfect for those interested in the military.

Colburn worked with many important authors of his time, including Disraeli and other popular novelists.

Family Life

Henry Colburn was married twice. His second wife was Eliza Anne Crosbie. He passed away at his home on August 16, 1855, and was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery.