The New International Encyclopædia/Newbery, John

NEWBERY, Author:John Newbery (1713-67). A famous English bookseller and publisher, the son of a poor farmer of Waltham Saint Lawrence, in Berkshire. He attended the village school, but he educated himself mainly by reading. In 1730, he went to Reading, where he entered the service of William Carnan, editor of the Mercury. After the death of his employer, in 1737, he married his widow. Somewhat later, he opened in London a bookshop and publishing house in Saint Paul's Churchyard (1745). He started several newspapers. In The Universal Chronicle and Weekly Gazette (founded 1758) appeared Johnson's Idlers; and in The Public Ledger (founded 1760) appeared Goldsmith's Citizen of the World. Newbery was the first publisher to issue books especially for the young. His Juvenile Library was made up of dainty volumes bound in flowered and gilt Dutch paper. Among them were Goody Two Shoes (reprinted with introduction by C. Welsh, London, 1881) and Tommy Trip and his Dog Growler.