John Blair Scribner (June 4, 1850 – January 21, 1879) was the president of

Charles Scribner's Sons Charles Scribner's Sons, or simply Scribner's or Scribner, is an American publisher based in New York City, known for publishing American authors including Henry James, Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Kurt Vonnegut, Marjorie Kinnan R ...

from 1871 to 1879.

Biography

John Blair Scribner was born on June 4, 1850, to

Charles Scribner I Charles Scribner I (February 21, 1821 – August 26, 1871) was an American publisher who, with Isaac D. Baker (1819–1850), founded a publishing company that would eventually become Charles Scribner's Sons. Early life Scribner was born in New ...

and Emma Elizabeth Blair (1827-1869). His grandfather and namesake was

John Insley Blair John Insley Blair (August 22, 1802 – December 2, 1899) was an American entrepreneur, railroad magnate, philanthropist and one of the 19th century's wealthiest men. Early life John Insley Blair was born at Foul Rift in White Township, New Jer ...

. He attended

Princeton College Princeton University is a private research university in Princeton, New Jersey. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and one of the ni ...

, but did not graduate, but instead he came to work at

Charles Scribner Company Charles Scribner's Sons, or simply Scribner's or Scribner, is an American publisher based in New York City, known for publishing American authors including Henry James, Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Kurt Vonnegut, Marjorie Kinnan Rawli ...

with his father. At the death of his father in 1871, he took over as president of the company. He married Lucy Ann Skidmore (1853-1931), who created

Skidmore College Skidmore College is a Private school, private liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Saratoga Springs, New York. Approximately 2,650 students are enrolled at Skidmore pursuing a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Scien ...

. Scribner died of

pneumonia Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of productive or dry cough, chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathing. The severi ...

on January 21, 1879, at the age of 28. According to his obituarist, just before he died, Scribner told his brother,

Charles Scribner II Charles Scribner II (October 18, 1854 – April 19, 1930) was the president of Charles Scribner's Sons and a trustee at Skidmore College. Early life He was born in New York City on October 18, 1854. He was the son of Emma Elizabeth Blair (1827–1 ...

, "Cheer up old fellow. You always look on the dark side. I shall soon be all right again." His funeral was held at the Church of the Covenant on January 23, 1879.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Scribner, John Blair 1850 births 1879 deaths Princeton University alumni Charles Scribner's Sons People from Manhattan Deaths from pneumonia in New York City 19th-century American businesspeople