Thomas Byerley (1789–1826), also known by the pseudonyms of Reuben Percy and Stephen Collet, was an English journalist and compiler of the ''Percy Anecdotes''.

Life

He was born in Brompton,

North Yorkshire North Yorkshire is the largest ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county (lieutenancy area) in England, covering an area of . Around 40% of the county is covered by National parks of the United Kingdom, national parks, including most of ...

, England in 1789 and was the brother of Sir John Byerley. Becoming a writer, he was editor of the ''

Literary Chronicle Literature is any collection of written work, but it is also used more narrowly for writings specifically considered to be an art form, especially prose fiction, drama, and poetry. In recent centuries, the definition has expanded to include ...

'', and assistant editor of ''

The Star ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

'' newspaper. He was also editor of ''

The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction John Limbird (1796?-1883) was an English stationer, bookseller and publisher, characterised by an obituarist as "the father of our periodical writing". John Limbird was christened on 1 May 1796 in the parish of St. Nicholas, Glatton, Huntingdons ...

'', from 1823 until his death, on 28 July 1826.

Works

Under the pseudonym of Stephen Collet, Byerley published ''Relics of Literature'', London, 1823, 8vo, a collection of miscellanies, including a long article, reprinted in 1875, on

graphology Graphology is the analysis of handwriting with attempt to determine someone's personality traits. No scientific evidence exists to support graphology, and it is generally considered a pseudoscience or scientifically questionable practice. Howe ...

. He is best known for ''The Percy Anecdotes'', 20 vols., London, 1821–3, 12mo. These volumes, which came out in forty-four monthly parts, were supposedly written by "Sholto and Reuben Percy, brothers of the Benedictine monastery of Mount Benger". Reuben Percy was Byerley, and Sholto Percy was

Joseph Clinton Robertson Joseph Clinton Robertson (c.1787–1852), pseudonym Sholto Percy, was a Scottish patent agent, writer and periodical editor. He was a political radical prominent in the early days of the working-class press in London, and in the debates within th ...

. The name of the collection was taken from the Percy coffee-house in Rathbone Place in

Fitzrovia Fitzrovia () is a district of central London, England, near the West End. The eastern part of area is in the London Borough of Camden, and the western in the City of Westminster. It has its roots in the Manor of Tottenham Court, and was urban ...

, where Byerley and Robertson used to meet. The ''Anecdotes'' were reprinted in 2 vols. in the

Chandos Library Chandos may refer to: Titles * Duke of Chandos, and Baron Chandos, three English titles, all extinct * Viscount Chandos, a modern title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom Businesses * Chandos Records * Chandos Publishing Other uses * Chandos ...

with a preface by

John Timbs John Timbs (; 17 August 1801 – 6 March 1875) was an English author and antiquary. Some of his work was published under the pseudonym of Horace Welby. Biography Timbs was born in 1801 in Clerkenwell, London. He was educated at a private school ...

. The "Brothers Percy" also compiled ''London, or Interesting Memorials of its Rise, Progress, and Present State'', 3 vols., London, 1823.

References

;Attribution {{DEFAULTSORT:Byerley, Thomas 1826 deaths English male journalists 1789 births