John Taylor (English publisher) facts for kids

John Taylor (born July 31, 1781 – died July 5, 1864) was an English publisher, writer, and essayist. He is famous for publishing the works of well-known poets like John Keats and John Clare.

Early Life and Career

John Taylor was born on July 31, 1781, in East Retford, England. His father, James Taylor, was a printer and bookseller. John went to school at Lincoln Grammar School and later at a local grammar school in Retford.

He first trained with his father. Later, in 1803, he moved to London. There, he worked for a bookseller named James Lackington. However, he soon left this job because the pay was very low.

Taylor & Hessey Publishing

John Taylor then started his own business with James Augustus Hessey. Their company was called Taylor & Hessey. It was located at 93 Fleet Street in London.

In 1819, Taylor met the poet John Clare. He helped Clare prepare his poems for publishing. Taylor also became the publisher for another famous poet, John Keats. Besides these, he published works by other important writers like Charles Lamb, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and William Hazlitt.

In 1821, Taylor & Hessey also began publishing the London Magazine. This was a popular magazine that featured many articles and poems.

Taylor & Walton and Later Years

Later in his life, John Taylor partnered with James Walton. Their new company, Taylor & Walton, became the official bookseller and publisher for the new University of London. They moved their business to Upper Gower Street.

At this time, Taylor focused on publishing academic textbooks. This was a new and growing area in publishing.

John Taylor never married. He faced health problems and sadness throughout his life. He passed away on July 5, 1864, in Kensington, London. He was buried in the churchyard at Gamston, near Retford. The University of London paid for his tombstone.

John Taylor's Legacy

After John Taylor died, many of his old papers and writings were sold. At first, the poets he published were not very popular. So, his manuscripts did not sell for much money.

However, years later, things changed. In 1897, some of the original handwritten poems by Keats, like Endymion and Lamia, sold for much higher prices. This showed how important the works he published became over time.

Family Connections

John Taylor had a brother named James Taylor (1788–1863). James was a banker in Bakewell, England. He wrote several articles about money systems.

See also

• Pyramid inch