Alexander MacMillan (publisher)

Scottish cofounder of Macmillan Publishers

Portrait of Alexander Macmillan

Alexander MacMillan (Scottish Gaelic: Alasdair MacMhaolain; 3 October 1818 – 25 January 1896), born in Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland, was a cofounder, in 1843, with his brother Daniel, of Macmillan Publishers in Covent Garden, London.[1] His family were crofters from the Isle of Arran.[2][3]

Alexander was the partner who developed the literary reputation of the company, while Daniel took charge of the business and commercial side. Originally called Macmillan & Co., the firm started as a successful bookshop in Cambridge. The brothers soon started publishing books as well as selling them. After Daniel's death in 1857, Alexander continued to run the firm. He expanded the company into a worldwide organization and also started publishing magazines, including the prestigious scientific journal Nature. Macmillan assigned George Edward Brett to create the New York office in August 1869 and hired American firm Messrs. Pott & Amery to assist in the marketing and distribution of Macmillan's books.[4]

Alexander's brother Daniel was the grandfather of Harold Macmillan, who became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

## See also

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* Bowes & Bowes
* Macmillan Publishing

## References

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1. ^ "Bedford Street and Chandos Place Area: Bedford Street Pages 253-263 Survey of London: Volume 36, Covent Garden". British History Online. LCC 1970. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
2. ^ History Archived 1 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine
3. ^ "PUBLISHING: Crofter's Crop". Time. 22 January 1951. Archived from the original on 28 November 2007. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
4. ^ James, Elizabeth (2002). Macmillan A Publishing Tradition. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 0-333-73517-X.

## Further reading

[edit]

* Harkness, Sarah (2024). Literature for the People (Hardcover). London: Macmillan. ISBN 9781035008933.
* James, Elizabeth, ed. (2002). Macmillan: A Publishing Tradition. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 0-333-73517-X.
* Morgan, Charles (1944). The House of Macmillan (1843–1943). London: Macmillan. ISBN 9781199630568. `{{cite book}}`: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)

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