Longman, also known as Pearson Longman, is a
publishing company
Publishing is the activity of making information, literature, music, software and other content available to the public for sale or for free. Traditionally, the term refers to the creation and distribution of printed works, such as books, newsp ...
founded in London, England, in 1724 and is owned by
Pearson PLC
Pearson plc is a British multinational corporation, multinational publishing and education company headquartered in London, England.
It was founded as a construction business in the 1840s but switched to publishing in the 1920s.J. A. Spende ...
.
Since 1968, Longman has been used primarily as an imprint by Pearson's Schools business. The Longman brand is also used for the Longman Schools in China and the ''
Longman Dictionary
The ''Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English'' (''LDOCE''), first published by Longman in 1978, is an advanced learner's dictionary, providing definitions using a restricted vocabulary, helping non-native English speakers understand meaning ...
''.
History
Beginnings
The Longman company was founded by
Thomas Longman (1699 – 18 June 1755), the son of Ezekiel Longman (died 1708), a gentleman of
Bristol
Bristol () is a city, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Gloucestershire to the north and Somerset to the south. Bristol is the most populous city in ...
. Thomas was apprenticed in 1716 to John Osborn, a London bookseller, and at the expiration of his apprenticeship married Osborn's daughter. In August 1724, he purchased the stock and household goods of
William Taylor, the first publisher of ''
Robinson Crusoe'', for 9s 6d. Taylor's two shops in
Paternoster Row
Paternoster Row was a street in the City of London that was a centre of the London publishing trade, with booksellers operating from the street. Paternoster Row was described as "almost synonymous" with the book trade. It was part of an area cal ...
, London, were known respectively as the ''
Black Swan
The black swan (''Cygnus atratus'') is a large waterbird, a species of swan which breeds mainly in the southeast and southwest regions of Australia. Within Australia, the black swan is nomadic, with erratic migration patterns dependent upon c ...
'' and the ''
Ship
A ship is a large watercraft that travels the world's oceans and other sufficiently deep waterways, carrying cargo or passengers, or in support of specialized missions, such as defense, research, and fishing. Ships are generally distinguished ...
'', premises at that time having signs rather than numbers, and became the publishing house premises.
Longman entered into partnership with his father-in-law, Osborn, who held one-sixth of the shares in
Ephraim Chambers
Ephraim Chambers ( – 15 May 1740) was an English writer and encyclopaedist, who is primarily known for producing the '' Cyclopaedia, or a Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences''.
Biography
Chambers was born in Milton near Kendal, Westmor ...
's ''
Cyclopaedia
Cyclopedia, cyclopaedia or cyclopedien is an archaic term for encyclopedia.
The term may specifically refer to:
*''Cyclopædia, or an Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences'', 1728, edited by Ephraim Chambers
*''Rees's Cyclopædia'', 1802– ...
'' (1728). Longman himself was one of the six booksellers, who undertook the responsibility of
Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson (18 September 1709 – 13 December 1784), often called Dr Johnson, was an English writer who made lasting contributions as a poet, playwright, essayist, moralist, critic, biographer, editor and lexicographer. The ''Oxford ...
's ''
Dictionary
A dictionary is a listing of lexemes from the lexicon of one or more specific languages, often arranged alphabetically (or by radical and stroke for ideographic languages), which may include information on definitions, usage, etymologies ...
'' (1746–1755).
Second and third generations
In 1754, Longman took into partnership his nephew, Thomas Longman (1730–1797), and the title of the firm became 'T. and T. Longman'. Upon the death of his uncle in 1755, Longman became sole proprietor. He greatly extended the colonial trade of the firm. In 1794, he took Owen Rees as a partner; in the same year, Thomas Brown (c. 1777–1869) entered the house as an apprentice.
Longman had three sons. Of these,
Thomas Norton Longman Thomas Norton Longman (1771–1842) was an English publisher, who succeeded to the Longman’s publishing business in 1793.
Biography
Thomas Norton Longman was born in England, son of Thomas Longman (1730–1797), and his wife, Elizabeth Harris (1 ...
(1771–1842) succeeded to the business. In 1804, two more partners, including Edward Orme & Thomas Hurst, were admitted, and the former apprentice Brown became a partner in 1811; in 1824, the title of the firm was changed to 'Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, Brown & Green'. A document of 1823 "Grant of Land in the Concan" printed by the firm under this name shows the name change was from 1823 or earlier.
In 1799, Longman purchased the copyright of
Lindley Murray
Lindley Murray (7 June 1745 – 16 February 1826) was an American Quaker lawyer, writer and grammarian, best known for his English-language grammar books used in schools in England and the United States.
Early life
Lindley Murray was born ...
's ''English Grammar'', which had an annual sale of about copies. In the following year,
Richmal Mangnall
Richmal Mangnall (1769–1820) was an English schoolmistress and the writer of a famous schoolbook, ''Mangnall's Questions''. This had been through 84 editions by 1857. She became the headmistress of Crofton Hall, a successful Yorkshire school, ...
's ''Historical and Miscellaneous Questions for the Use of Young People'' was purchased, and went through 84 editions by 1857. About 1800 he also purchased the copyright of
Southey's ''
Joan of Arc
Joan of Arc (french: link=yes, Jeanne d'Arc, translit= an daʁk} ; 1412 – 30 May 1431) is a patron saint of France, honored as a defender of the French nation for her role in the siege of Orléans and her insistence on the coronati ...
'' and
Wordsworth
William Wordsworth (7 April 177023 April 1850) was an English Romantic poet who, with Samuel Taylor Coleridge, helped to launch the Romantic Age in English literature with their joint publication ''Lyrical Ballads'' (1798).
Wordsworth's ' ...
's ''
Lyrical Ballads'', from Joseph Cottle of Bristol. He published the works of Wordsworth,
Coleridge
Samuel Taylor Coleridge (; 21 October 177225 July 1834) was an English poet, literary critic, philosopher, and theologian who, with his friend William Wordsworth, was a founder of the Romantic Movement in England and a member of the Lake Poe ...
, Southey and
Scott
Scott may refer to:
Places Canada
* Scott, Quebec, municipality in the Nouvelle-Beauce regional municipality in Quebec
* Scott, Saskatchewan, a town in the Rural Municipality of Tramping Lake No. 380
* Rural Municipality of Scott No. 98, Saska ...
, and acted as London agent for the ''
Edinburgh Review
The ''Edinburgh Review'' is the title of four distinct intellectual and cultural magazines. The best known, longest-lasting, and most influential of the four was the third, which was published regularly from 1802 to 1929.
''Edinburgh Review'', ...
'', which was started in 1802. In 1802 appeared the first part of ''
Rees's Cyclopædia
Rees's ''Cyclopædia'', in full ''The Cyclopædia; or, Universal Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and Literature'' was an important 19th-century British encyclopaedia edited by Rev. Abraham Rees (1743–1825), a Presbyterian minister and scholar w ...
'', edited by
Abraham Rees
Abraham Rees (1743 – 9 June 1825) was a Welsh nonconformist minister, and compiler of ''Rees's Cyclopædia'' (in 45 volumes).
Life
He was the second son of Esther, daughter of Abraham Penry, and her husband Lewis Rees, and was born in L ...
. This was completed in 39 volumes plus 6 volumes of plates in 1819.
In 1814 arrangements were made with
Thomas Moore
Thomas Moore (28 May 1779 – 25 February 1852) was an Irish writer, poet, and lyricist celebrated for his ''Irish Melodies''. Their setting of English-language verse to old Irish tunes marked the transition in popular Irish culture from Irish ...
for the publication of ''Laila Rookh'', for which he was paid ; and when
Archibald Constable
Archibald David Constable (24 February 1774 – 21 July 1827) was a Scottish publisher, bookseller and stationer.
Life
Constable was born at Carnbee, Fife, son of the land steward to the Earl of Kellie.
In 1788 Archibald was apprenticed to Pe ...
failed in 1826, Longmans became the proprietors of the ''
Edinburgh Review
The ''Edinburgh Review'' is the title of four distinct intellectual and cultural magazines. The best known, longest-lasting, and most influential of the four was the third, which was published regularly from 1802 to 1929.
''Edinburgh Review'', ...
''. They issued in 1829
Lardner's ''Cabinet Encyclopaedia'', and in 1832
McCulloch's ''Commercial Dictionary''.
Fourth and fifth generations
Thomas Norton Longman died on 29 August 1842, leaving his two sons,
Thomas
Thomas may refer to:
People
* List of people with given name Thomas
* Thomas (name)
* Thomas (surname)
* Saint Thomas (disambiguation)
* Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) Italian Dominican friar, philosopher, and Doctor of the Church
* Thomas the Ap ...
(1804–1879) and William (1813–1877), in control of the business in Paternoster Row. Their first success was the publication of
Macaulay's ''
Lays of Ancient Rome
''Lays of Ancient Rome'' is an 1842 collection of narrative poems, or lays, by Thomas Babington Macaulay. Four of these recount heroic episodes from early Roman history with strong dramatic and tragic themes, giving the collection its name. M ...
'', which was followed in 1841 by the issue of the first two volumes of his ''
History of England
England became inhabited more than 800,000 years ago, as the discovery of stone tools and footprints at Happisburgh in Norfolk have indicated.; "Earliest footprints outside Africa discovered in Norfolk" (2014). BBC News. Retrieved 7 February ...
'', which after a few years had a sale of copies.
The two brothers were well known for their literary talent. Thomas Longman edited a beautifully illustrated edition of the
New Testament
The New Testament grc, Ἡ Καινὴ Διαθήκη, transl. ; la, Novum Testamentum. (NT) is the second division of the Christian biblical canon. It discusses the teachings and person of Jesus, as well as events in first-century Christ ...
, and William Longman was the author of several important books, among them a ''History of the Three Cathedrals dedicated to St Paul'' (1869) and a work on the ''History of the Life and Times of
Edward III
Edward III (13 November 1312 – 21 June 1377), also known as Edward of Windsor before his accession, was King of England and Lord of Ireland from January 1327 until his death in 1377. He is noted for his military success and for restoring r ...
'' (1873). In 1863, the firm took over the business of
John William Parker, and with it ''
Fraser's Magazine'', and the publication of the works of
John Stuart Mill
John Stuart Mill (20 May 1806 – 7 May 1873) was an English philosopher, political economist, Member of Parliament (MP) and civil servant. One of the most influential thinkers in the history of classical liberalism, he contributed widely to ...
and
James Anthony Froude; while in 1890 they incorporated with their own all the publications of the old firm of
Rivington, established in 1711. The family control of the firm (later 'Longmans, Green & Co.') was continued by Thomas Norton Longman, son of Thomas Longman. In 1884 the firm employed John William Allen as an educationalist. Allen grew the firm's educational list, including textbooks he wrote himself. He later inherited the shares of W. E. Green and became a shareholder in 1918.
1900 onwards
In December 1940, Longman's Paternoster Row offices were destroyed in
The Blitz
The Blitz was a German bombing campaign against the United Kingdom in 1940 and 1941, during the Second World War. The term was first used by the British press and originated from the term , the German word meaning 'lightning war'.
The Germa ...
, along with most of the company's stock. The company survived this crisis, however, and became a public company in 1948. Longman was acquired by the global publisher
Pearson Pearson may refer to:
Organizations Education
*Lester B. Pearson College, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
*Pearson College (UK), London, owned by Pearson PLC
*Lester B. Pearson High School (disambiguation)
Companies
*Pearson PLC, a UK-based int ...
, owner of
Penguin
Penguins (order (biology), order List of Sphenisciformes by population, Sphenisciformes , family (biology), family Spheniscidae ) are a group of Water bird, aquatic flightless birds. They live almost exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere: on ...
and ''
The Financial Times
The ''Financial Times'' (''FT'') is a British daily newspaper printed in broadsheet and published digitally that focuses on business and economic current affairs. Based in London, England, the paper is owned by a Japanese holding company, Nikk ...
'', in 1968. Longman's medical lists was merged with other Pearson subsidiaries to form
Churchill Livingstone
Churchill Livingstone is an academic publisher.
It was formed in 1971 from the merger of Longman's medical list, E & S Livingstone (Edinburgh, Scotland) and J & A Churchill (London, England) and was owned by Pearson. Harcourt acquired Churchill ...
in 1972. Also in 1972, Mark Longman, last of the Longman family to run the company, died.
Longman continued to exist as an imprint of Pearson, under the name 'Pearson Longman'. Pearson Longman specialized in English, including
English as a second or foreign language, history, economics, philosophy, political science, and religion.
Longman is now primarily used by Pearson's ELT business (English Language Teaching). The Longman brand is now only used for the Longman Schools in China and oddments such as the ''Longman Dictionary'' and ''Kennedy's Revised Latin Primer''. All other textbooks and products use the Pearson brand/imprint.
Longman imprints
Longman imprints:
* 1724 T. Longman
* 1725 J. Osborn and T. Longman
* 1734 T. Longman
* 1745 T. Longman and T. Shewell
* 1747 T. Longman
* 1753 T. and T. Longman
* 1755 M. and T. Longman
* 1755 T. Longman
* 1793 T. N. Longman. Also T. Longman
* 1797 Messrs. Longman and Rees
* 1799 T. N. Longman and O. Rees
* 1800 Longman and Rees
* 1804 Longman, Hurst, Rees and Orme
* 1811 Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown
* 1823 Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, Brown and Green
* 1825 Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown and Green
* 1832 Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, Green and Longmans
* 1838 Longman, Orme, Brown, Green and Longmans
* 1840 Longman, Orme & Co.
* 1841 Longman, Brown & Co.
* 1842 Longman, Brown, Green and Longmans
* 1856 Longman, Brown, Green, Longmans and Roberts
* 1859 Longman, Green, Longman and Roberts
* 1862 Longman, Green, Longman, Roberts and Green
* 1865 Longmans, Green, Reader and Dyer
* 1880 Longmans, Green & Co.
* 1926 Longmans, Green & Co. (Ltd.)
* 1959 Longmans
* 1969 Longman
See also
*
Express Publishing
Express Publishing is an independent UK based publishing house with its headquarters in Berkshire./compdetails "Express Publishing". ''Companies House''. March 24, 2015. The company was founded in 1988 and it specializes in English language lea ...
*
Macmillan Publishers
Macmillan Publishers (occasionally known as the Macmillan Group; formally Macmillan Publishers Ltd and Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC) is a British publishing company traditionally considered to be one of the 'Big Five' English language publi ...
*
Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press (OUP) is the university press of the University of Oxford. It is the largest university press in the world, and its printing history dates back to the 1480s. Having been officially granted the legal right to print books ...
Notes
References
*
*
*
*
Attribution:
*
Further reading
*
External links
Longman USALongman UKLongman Online DictionaryLongman family (1724–1972)by
Asa Briggs
Asa Briggs, Baron Briggs (7 May 1921 – 15 March 2016) was an English historian. He was a leading specialist on the Victorian era, and the foremost historian of broadcasting in Britain. Briggs achieved international recognition during his lon ...
at
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
The ''Dictionary of National Biography'' (''DNB'') is a standard work of reference on notable figures from British history, published since 1885. The updated ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' (''ODNB'') was published on 23 September ...
.
{{Authority control
Book publishing companies based in London
1724 establishments in England
Companies established in 1724
Pearson plc
Publishing companies established in the 1720s
British companies established in 1724