Joseph Whitaker

Joseph Whitaker (May 4, 1820 - May 15, 1895), English publisher, was born in London, and apprenticed to a bookseller at the age of fourteen.

After a long experience with various bookselling firms, he began business on his ownaccount as a theological publisher. In January 1858 he started the "Bookseller", and for 1869 published the first issue of "Whitaker's Almanack", the annual work of reference, which also met with immediate success.

In 1874 he published the first edition of the "Reference Catalogue of Current Literature", of which several editions have since appeared.

Whitaker died at Enfield on the 15th of May 1895 and was buried at West Norwood Cemetery. He was the father of fifteen children; the eldest, Joseph Vernon Whitaker was editor of the American Literary Gazette, and later returned to England to become editor of the "Bookseller" and the "Reference Catalogue". Cuthbert Whitaker, the twelfth child, succeeded his father as editor of the "Almanack".

A blue plaque was installed to mark his dwelling place, in 1998 at White Lodge, Silver Street, Enfield .

External links

* H. R. Tedder, [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/29224 "Whitaker, Joseph (1820–1895)"] rev. Joseph Coohill, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, 2004 (Subscription required)

: 1911