Joseph Whitaker

Who was Joseph Whitaker?

Joseph Whitaker, English publisher, was born in London, and apprenticed to a bookseller at the age of fourteen.

After years of experience at various bookselling firms, he undertook his own business as a publisher of theological works. In January 1858 he launched The Bookseller and in 1869 published the first issue of Whitaker's Almanack, a reference annual, which 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.

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.

Whitaker died at Enfield on 15 May 1895 and was buried at West Norwood Cemetery. In 1998 a blue plaque was installed at White Lodge, Silver Street, Enfield, to mark his dwelling place.