John Morphew (died 1720) was an English publisher. He was associated with significant literary and political publications of the early 18th century. At one point publishing for both Whig and

Tory A Tory () is a person who holds a political philosophy known as Toryism, based on a British version of traditionalism and conservatism, which upholds the supremacy of social order as it has evolved in the English culture throughout history. The ...

factions, he later became identified with the Tories.

Life

Morphew as trade publisher (distributor) and John Nutt (printer) took over the business of Edward Jones when he died; this was in 1706. Previously Morphew had been a journeyman for Jones. At this period (i.e. from 1706) Morphew's name had replaced that of Nutt as imprint in most of

Jonathan Swift Jonathan Swift (30 November 1667 – 19 October 1745) was an Anglo-Irish satirist, author, essayist, political pamphleteer (first for the Whigs, then for the Tories), poet, and Anglican cleric who became Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral, Du ...

's works. In 1707 he began to publish periodicals. He also had a long working relationship with

Delarivier Manley Delarivier "Delia" Manley (1663 or c. 1670 – 24 July 1724) was an English author, playwright, and political pamphleteer. Manley is sometimes referred to, with Aphra Behn and Eliza Haywood, as one of "the fair triumvirate of wit", which is a la ...

In 1709 Morphew was arrested by the government, with John Barber, and the publisher John Woodward; the charge arose from the publication of the second volume of Manley's ''New Atalantis''. In 1710 he began publishing '' The Examiner'' for Swift. From 1710 also, Morphew, who was connected to the Tory administration, began working with

Edmund Curll Edmund Curll (''c.'' 1675 – 11 December 1747) was an English bookseller and publisher. His name has become synonymous, through the attacks on him by Alexander Pope, with unscrupulous publication and publicity. Curll rose from poverty to wealt ...

and producing political pamphlets. George Sewell, who had worked for Morphew as a hack writer, left to work for Curll. He was also publisher of '' The Tatler'', the real person mentioned alongside the fictitious Isaac Bickerstaff. Morphew associated with the Scriblerus Club, and had some status as printer to the Tory ministry of the last years of Queen Anne. He took on, at some point, the publication of

Abel Roper Abel Roper (1665–1726) was an English journalist, who wrote in the Tory interest. Life A younger son of Isaac Roper, he was born at Atherstone in Warwickshire, and baptised on 13 September 1665. He was adopted in 1677 by his uncle, Abel Roper, ...

's Tory paper the ''Post Boy'' (1714). Shortly after the Hanoverian Succession in 1714 it gave offence to the government. At this juncture Roper denied active involvement; and Morphew backed him up by stating that for while he had not accounted for the ''Post Boys profits to Roper. Subsequently Morphew lost some of his predominance as trade publisher to James Roberts, who identified more with the Whig cause. Material published in the ''Post Boy'' in the sensitive area of Anglo-Swedish relations, after the 1716 Jacobite plotting, caused Morphew to be arrested again in February 1717.

Notes

External links

WorldCat page
{{DEFAULTSORT:Morphew, John Year of birth missing 1720 deaths English publishers (people)