THIS WEEK'S GREAT MAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 151, 27 June 1936, Page 5 (Supplement)

THIS WEEK'S GREAT MAN.

JOHN MURRAY. 1 778. 1843. DIED JUNE 27, 1843. The name of John Murray is famous in the annals of British publishing. The head of the house (1935) is the fifth John Murray in direct succession. The founder of the house was born in Edinburgh about 1 745. He commenced business j in the days of Dr. Johnson, and is indeed mentioned in Boswell's biography. The autograph letter was written by the second John Murray. He was publisher for, amongst others, Byron and Southey, the latter of whom is referred to in the letter. It was in Murray's home that Byron and Scott first met. Another famous author whose works were published by Murray was George Borrow, and it was John Murray 11. who was dubbed by him "Glorious John." He died on June 27, 1843. John Murray 111. published Livingstone's Travels and Darwin's Origin of Species. He was present when Scott, in 1827, acknowledged the authorship of the Waverley novels. John Murray IV. was knighted a few years before liis death in 1928, and John Murray V., an officer in the Great War, was similarly honoured in 1933. (Compiled by A. H. REED, Dunedtn.)