Thomas Fisher Unwin (24 January 1848 – 6 February 1935) was an English publisher who founded the publishing house of T. Fisher Unwin.

Thomas Fisher Unwin
In The Sketch, 15 January 1896
Born(1848-01-24)24 January 1848
London, England
Died6 February 1935(1935-02-06) (aged 87)
Midhurst, Sussex, England
NationalityEnglish
OccupationPublisher
SpouseJane Cobden

Early life and career

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Thomas Fisher Unwin was born on 24 January 1848 in 33 Lowgate Hill, London. He was the son of the printer Jacob Unwin (1802–1855), who was the founder of the firm Unwin Brothers and of the Gresham Press, and of his wife, Isobel, (née Hall). He attended the City of London School and then worked for the London publishing firm, Jackson, Walford, and Hodder (which was the predecessor firm of Hodder & Stoughton).

In 1882, he founded his own publishing firm, T. Fisher Unwin. In 1885, he started a British book series titled The Story of the Nations. It reflected his views, which were liberal and internationalist; and also his wife's interest in abolitionism and suffragism.[1] The series was published in the USA by G. P. Putnam, though not in identical form.[2]

He was a co-founder of the Johnson Club, formed 13 September 1884, to mark the hundred years since the death of Dr Samuel Johnson.

In 1896, he jointly founded The Publishers Association.[1]

Personal life

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He was married to Jane Cobden, the Liberal politician, daughter of the Victorian reformer and statesman Richard Cobden.[3]

His nephew, Stanley Unwin, founded the publishing firm George Allen and Unwin.

He died at his home in Midhurst, Sussex on 6 February 1935.[4]

Works

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Some editions of T. Fisher Unwin:

References

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  1. ^ a b Codell, Julie F. (2004), "Unwin, Thomas Fisher (1848–1935)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.), Oxford University Press, retrieved 11 January 2008 (subscription or UK public library membership required)
  2. ^ Putnam, George Haven (1 October 2001). Memories of a Publisher 1865 - 1915. The Minerva Group, Inc. p. 405. ISBN 978-0-89875-600-5.
  3. ^ Howe, Anthony (May 2006). "Unwin, (Emma) Jane Catherine Cobden". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Online edition. Retrieved 16 March 2013. (subscription required)
  4. ^ "Famous Publisher Mr. Thomas Fisher Unwin Dead". Evening Chronicle. Manchester. 6 February 1935. p. 1. Retrieved 6 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.

Further reading

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  • Philip Unwin, The Publishing Unwins (London: William Heinemann Ltd., 1972)
  • Philip Unwin, The Printing Unwins: A Short History of Unwin Brothers the Gresham Press 1826-1976 (London: Allen & Unwin, 1976). ISBN 978-0-04-655013-4.
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