68 Silver StreetPlaque to Whitaker on 68 Silver Street
Joseph Whitaker (4 May 1820 – 15 May 1895) was a publisher who founded Whitaker's Almanack.
Early life
Joseph Whitaker was born in London, and apprenticed to a bookseller at the age of fourteen.
Career
After years of experience at various bookselling firms, he undertook his own business as a publisher, first as J. Whitaker and later as J. Whitaker & Sons. Early publications were 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 (and lasting) success.
In 1874 he launched the Reference Catalogue of Current Literature,[1] whose goal to "anthologiz[e] publishers' catalogues".[2] This reference work went though numerous editions.
He helped "organize and distribute relief funds for Parisian booksellers"[2] following the Franco-Prussian War (1870–71).
Personal life
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.
^ abKevin A. Morrison, "Whitaker, Joseph (1820–95) English publisher", in: Michael F. Suarez, S.J. and H. R. Woudhuysen, eds., The Oxford Companion to the Book, Oxford University Press, 2010 (online edition). Retrieved 8 March 2023.