George Lackington (1777–1844) was an English bookseller and publisher.
Life
He inherited the business of his distant relation
James Lackington, on his retirement in 1798.
Charles Henry Timperley
Charles Henry Timperley (1794–1869) was an English printer and writer.
Life
He was born in Manchester, and educated at the Manchester Grammar School. In March 1810 he enlisted in the 33rd Regiment of Foot, was wounded at the Battle of Water ...
, ''A Dictionary of Printers and Printing: with the progress of literature'', 1839:862, ''s.v.'' "1815, He had started work in this bookselling business in Chiswell Street, London, at the age of 13; James Lackington was perhaps a third cousin, but George Lackington was usually known as the "nephew". His father was a prosperous coal merchant, and provided his son with the capital to purchase a share in Lackington, Allen, & Co.'s large shop in
Finsbury Square. He became head of the firm in 1798.
The first volume of the Lackington's ''Catalogue, Michaelmas 1799 to Michaelmas 1800'', described over 200,000 books; the second volume, which described over 800,000, was issued in 1803. Selling cheaply in large quantities, for cash only, was the business model, but the firm also went into publishing. Besides Lackington, the other members of the firm were Allen, who possessed a great knowledge of books acquired from early training with James Lackington, and Richard Hughes, also lessee of
Sadler's Wells. Subsequent partners were A. Kirkman, Mavor, a son of
William Fordyce Mavor of
Woodstock, and Jones. In 1822 the business was conducted under the name of Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor, & Lepard.
The
Egyptian Hall in Piccadilly was bought by Lackington, and let for miscellaneous exhibitions. In his later years he was an official assignee of bankrupts in London. He died at
St. John's Wood
St John's Wood is a district in the City of Westminster, London, lying 2.5 miles (4 km) northwest of Charing Cross. Traditionally the northern part of the ancient parish and Metropolitan Borough of Marylebone, it extends east to west from ...
on 31 March 1844, aged 76.
On the retirement of George Lackington, Joseph Harding became the chief partner, and the business was moved to
Pall Mall East
Pall Mall is a street in the St James's area of the City of Westminster, Central London. It connects St James's Street to Trafalgar Square and is a section of the regional A4 road. The street's name is derived from pall-mall, a ...
by Harding and Lepard. Many well-known booksellers received their training there; the "last of the Lackingtonians", Kanes James Ford, died 11 December 1886, at the age of 94.
Family
He married a daughter of Captain Bullock, R.N., and left two daughters.
Notes
;Attribution
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lackington, George
1777 births
1844 deaths
English printers
English businesspeople