John Murray (publisher)

John Murray is a British publishing house, renowned for the roster of authors it has published in its history, including Jane Austen, Lord Byron and Charles Darwin.

Related Topics:
British - Jane Austen - Lord Byron - Charles Darwin

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The business was founded in London in 1768 by John Murray (1) (1745–1793), an Edinburgh-born Royal Marines officer, who built up a list of authors including Isaac Disraeli and published English Review.

Related Topics:
London - 1768 - Edinburgh - Royal Marines - Isaac Disraeli

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He was succeeded by his son, John Murray (2), who formed the publishing house into one of the most important and influential in Britain. He was a friend of many leading writers of the day and launched Quarterly Review in 1809. He was the publisher of Jane Austen, Sir Walter Scott, George Crabbe and many others. His home and office at 50 Albemarle Street in Mayfair was the centre of a literary circle, fostered by Murray's tradition of "Four o'clock friends", afternoon tea with his writers.

Related Topics:
John Murray (2) - Quarterly Review - 1809 - Jane Austen - Walter Scott - George Crabbe - Mayfair

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Murray's most notable author was Lord Byron, who became a close friend and correspondent of his. Murray published many of his major works, paying him over £20,000 in rights. On 10 March 1812 Murray published Byron's second book, Childe Harold's Pilgrimage, which sold out in five days, leading to Byron's observation "I awoke one morning and found myself famous".

Related Topics:
Lord Byron - 10 March - 1812 - Childe Harold's Pilgrimage

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Murray participated in one of the most notorious acts in the annals of literature, on 17 May 1824. Together with five of Byron's friends and executors, the decision was made to destroy Byron's manuscript journals in order to protect his reputation. Opposed only by Thomas Moore, the two volumes of memoirs were dismembered and burnt in the fireplace at Murray's office.

Related Topics:
17 May - 1824 - Thomas Moore

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John Murray (3) (1808–1892) continued the business and published Charles Darwin's Origin of Species, Samuel Smiles and David Livingstone.

Related Topics:
Charles Darwin - Origin of Species - Samuel Smiles - David Livingstone

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His successor Sir John Murray (4) ((1851–1928) was publisher to Queen Victoria. His son Sir John Murray (5) (1884–1967) and John Murray (6) (John Arnaud Robin Grey Murray) continued the business until it was taken over. John Murray is no longer an independent business, but the name survives as a subdivision of publisher Hodder Headline.

Related Topics:
Queen Victoria - Hodder Headline

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