''The Gentleman's Magazine'' was a monthly magazine founded in

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

, England, by Edward Cave in January 1731. It ran uninterrupted for almost 200 years, until 1922. It was the first to use the term '' magazine'' (from the French ''magazine'', meaning "storehouse") for a

periodical A periodical literature (also called a periodical publication or simply a periodical) is a published work that appears in a new edition on a regular schedule. The most familiar example is a newspaper, but a magazine or a journal are also example ...

. Samuel Johnson's first regular employment as a writer was with ''The Gentleman's Magazine''.

History

The original complete title was ''The Gentleman's Magazine: or, Trader's monthly intelligencer''. Cave's innovation was to create a monthly digest of news and commentary on any topic the educated public might be interested in, from commodity prices to Latin poetry. It carried original content from a stable of regular contributors, as well as extensive quotations and extracts from other periodicals and books. Cave, who edited ''The Gentleman's Magazine'' under the pen name "Sylvanus Urban", was the first to use the term '' magazine'' (meaning "storehouse") for a periodical. Contributions to the magazine frequently took the form of letters, addressed to "Mr. Urban". The iconic illustration of St. John's Gate on the front of each issue (occasionally updated over the years) depicted Cave's home, in effect, the magazine's "office". Before the founding of ''The Gentleman's Magazine'', there were specialised journals, but no such wide-ranging publications (although there had been attempts, such as ''The Gentleman's Journal'', which was edited by Peter Motteux and ran from 1692 to 1694). Samuel Johnson's first regular employment as a writer was with ''The Gentleman's Magazine''. During a time when parliamentary reporting was banned, Johnson regularly contributed parliamentary reports as "Debates of the Senate of Magna Lilliputia". Though they reflected the positions of the participants, the words of the debates were mostly Johnson's own. The name " Columbia", a poetic name for America coined by Johnson, first appears in a 1738 weekly publication of the debates of the British Parliament in the magazine. A skilled businessman, Edward Cave developed an extensive distribution system for ''The Gentleman's Magazine''. It was read throughout the English-speaking world and continued to flourish through the 18th century and much of the 19th century under a series of different editors and publishers. It went into decline towards the end of the 19th century and finally ceased general publication in September 1907. However, issues consisting of four pages each were printed in very small editions between late 1907 and 1922 in order to keep the title formally "in print".

Series

Gentleman's Magazine Volume One, Number One

*1731–1735 ''The Gentleman's Magazine'' or ''Monthly Intelligencer'' *1736–1833 ''The Gentleman's Magazine'' and Historical Chronicle *1834–1856 (June) New Series: ''The Gentleman's Magazine'' *1856 (July)–1868 (May) New Series: ''The Gentleman's Magazine'' and Historical Review *1868 (June)–1922 Entirely New Series: ''The Gentleman's Magazine''

Indexes

In addition to an index for each year of ''The Gentleman's Magazine'', which was usually published with the December issue of the magazine, a full index was compiled by the College of Arms and typed by the Genealogical Society of Utah. This 75-volume index, covering the years 1731–1850, gives the full name and an abbreviated reference to the date, event, and any other person(s) in each entry. The index is available at the Family History Library (FHL) under the call number 942 B2g Index, and is also available on microfilm (#599738–#599761) or microfiche (#6026701). In addition to the index, the FHL also has the magazine itself available in various formats. An abstract of the "chief contents of ''The Gentleman’s Magazine'' from 1731 to 1868" was published by George L. Gomme in 1891. He describes it as "excerpts from the original publications containing local history and information, topographical details, and family history are presented here, organized into volumes by county". Gomme's work has been digitised and indexed by Ancestry.com and is available online to Ancestry subscribers or at subscribing libraries. A four-volume set of indexes was compiled by Samuel Ayscough (Assistant Librarian of the

British Museum The British Museum is a public museum dedicated to human history, art and culture located in the Bloomsbury area of London. Its permanent collection of eight million works is among the largest and most comprehensive in existence. It docum ...

) with some assistance or later editing by John Nichols and by Gabriel Richard. The contents of these indexes are given as: *Volume 1 – 1731 – 1786 (published by Samuel Ayscough) **Index to the essays, dissertations and historical passages (494 pp.) **Index to poetry (62 pp.) **Index to names (239 pp.) **Index to plates (10 pp.) **Index to books (118 pp.) *Volume 2 – 1787 – 1818 (published by John Nichols) **Index to the essays, dissertations and historical passages (486 pp.) **Index to poetry (57 pp.) **Index to names (519 pp.) **Index to plates (17 pp.) **Index to books (103 pp.) **Index to books announced (13 pp.) **Index to musical publications (3 pp.) *Volume 3 – 1731 – 1818 (published by John Nichols) **Index to plates (239 pp.) *Volume 4 – 1731 – 1780 (published by the British Record Society) **Index to names and surnames (687 pp.) Volume 2 includes an "Index of Names to the Marriages, Births, Deaths, Promotions, &c." covering 1731–1786, and volume 4 contains an "Index of Names of Persons" covering 1731–1818. The indexes are by surname only and are available online for free through Google Books: *Ayscough, Samuel; Nichols, John. "General Index to the ''Gentleman's Magazine''" Nichols, 1789. Vol. 2. Free digital version at Google Books (follow link to page 64, which is followed by the index, which is numbered as page 1). Indexes names from Vol. 1 "To the End of the LVIth Volume of the ''Gentleman’s Magazine''" and covers 1731–1786. *Ayscough, Samuel; Nichols, John. (sometimes Richard, Gabriel) "General Index to the ''Gentleman's Magazine'' 1787–1818" Nichols, 1821. Vol. 3. Free digital version at Google Books David Dobson gleaned references to American births, marriages, and deaths from ''The Gentleman's Magazine'' and published it as ''American Vital Records from the Gentleman's Magazine, 1731–1868'' (Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1987). A few partial indexes to genealogical events in ''The Gentleman's Magazine'' are also available: *Fry, Edward Alexander. "Index to the Marriages in the ''Gentleman's Magazine'', 1731–1768" (London: .n. 1922) *Fry, Edward Alexander. "Index to the Biographical and Obituary Notices in ''Gentleman's Magazine'', 1731–1780" (London: British Records Society, 1891) *Marriages from ''The Gentleman's Magazine'' for the years 1731 to 1768 were included in ''Boyd's Marriage Index''. *Obituaries were included in ''Musgrave's Obituaries''. *Joseph Foster's index to marriages includes marriages from this periodical, as well as from ''The Times'' (1865–1880 only) and the Historical Register; but covers surname beginning Aa–Alexander only."Marriages of the Nobility and Gentry, 1650–1880", an article in ''Collectanea Genealogica, 1881–1885'' * Bodleian Library's Internet Library of Early Journals offers an online subject search tool for the years 1731–1750.

Authors of works published

Mark Akenside Mark Akenside (9 November 1721 – 23 June 1770) was an English poet and physician. Biography Akenside was born at Newcastle upon Tyne, England, the son of a butcher. He was slightly lame all his life from a wound he received as a child ...

(1721–1770), physician and poet * Henry Aldrich (1647–1710), English

theologian Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing the ...

and philosopher *

Richard Allestree Richard Allestree or Allestry ( ; 1621/22 – 28 January 1681) was an English Royalist churchman and provost of Eton College from 1665. Life The son of Robert Allestree, descended from an old Derbyshire family, he was born at Uppington in Shr ...

or Allestry (1619–1681),

Royalist A royalist supports a particular monarch as head of state for a particular kingdom, or of a particular dynastic claim. In the abstract, this position is royalism. It is distinct from monarchism, which advocates a monarchical system of governm ...

churchman and provost of

Eton College Eton College () is a public school in Eton, Berkshire, England. It was founded in 1440 by Henry VI under the name ''Kynge's College of Our Ladye of Eton besyde Windesore'',Nevill, p. 3 ff. intended as a sister institution to King's College, ...

from 1665 * Anthony Alsop (d. 1726),

Church of England The Church of England (C of E) is the established Christian church in England and the mother church of the international Anglican Communion. It traces its history to the Christian church recorded as existing in the Roman province of Britai ...

clergyman and poetical writer * George Ashby (1724–1808), English learned antiquary and sometime president of St. John's College, Cambridge * Francis Atterbury (1663–1732), English man of letters, politician, Bishop of Rochester, and Dean of Westminster Abbey * Samuel Badcock (1747–1788), English nonconformist minister, theological writer and literary critic * Henry Baker (1698–1774) * John Bancks (1709–1751), miscellaneous writer * Mary Barber (c. 1685–c. 1755), poet, mother of nine children, and a member of Swift's circle * Samuel Bowden (fl. 1733–1761), English physician and poet (alive in 1761 but deceased by 1778) * John Bowle (1725–1788),

clergyman known as a writer on Spanish literature *

Samuel Boyse Samuel Boyse (1702/3? – May 1749) was an Irish poet and writer who worked for Sir Robert Walpole and whose religious verses in particular were prized and reprinted in his time. Life Born in Dublin, Boyse was the son of Joseph Boyse, a Pres ...

(1708–1749), Irish poet * Peregrine Branwhite (1745–1795?), English poet *

Anna Eliza Bray Anna Eliza Bray (born Kempe, afterwards Stothard; 25 December 1790 – 21 January 1883) was an English historical novelist. She also wrote several works of non-fiction. Biography Anna Eliza Kempe was born in the parish of Newington, Surrey on 2 ...

(1790–1883), British novelist *

James Norris Brewer James Norris Brewer (1777–1839; fl. 1799–1829), was an English topographer and novelist. He wrote many romances and topographical compilations, the best of the latter being his contributions to the series called the '' Beauties of Eng ...

(fl. 1799–1829), English topographer and

novelist A novelist is an author or writer of novels, though often novelists also write in other genres of both fiction and non-fiction. Some novelists are professional novelists, thus make a living writing novels and other fiction, while others asp ...

* James Shudi Broadwood (1772–1851),

piano The piano is a stringed keyboard instrument in which the strings are struck by wooden hammers that are coated with a softer material (modern hammers are covered with dense wool felt; some early pianos used leather). It is played using a keybo ...

maker in

Middlesex Middlesex (; abbreviation: Middx) is a historic county in southeast England. Its area is almost entirely within the wider urbanised area of London and mostly within the ceremonial county of Greater London, with small sections in neighbour ...

and a magistrate in Surrey * Rev. Moses Browne (1704–1787),

priest and poet *

Edward John Carlos Edward John Carlos (12 February 1798 – 20 January 1851) was an English writer on architecture, and the author of many articles for ''The Gentleman's Magazine''. Life Carlos was born 12 February 1798, the son of William Carlos and his wife Grace ...

(1798–1851), English antiquarian and writer on architecture * Thomas Christie (1761–1796), radical political writer * Charles Clarke (antiquary) (died 1840), antiquarian * Rev. John Darwall (1731–1789),

clergyman Clergy are formal leaders within established religions. Their roles and functions vary in different religious traditions, but usually involve presiding over specific rituals and teaching their religion's doctrines and practices. Some of the ter ...

and hymnodist *

William Hepworth Dixon William Hepworth Dixon (30 June 1821 – 26 December 1879) was an English historian and traveller from Manchester. He was active in organizing London's Great Exhibition of 1851. Early life Dixon was born on 30 June 1821, at Great Ancoats in Man ...

(1821–1879), English traveler, historian, author * Rev. John Duncombe (1729–1786) * Rev. William Dunkin, D.D. (1709?–1765), Irish poet and Anglican clergyman * William Falconer (1732–1769), Scottish poet * Thomas Faulkner (1777–1855), topographer of Chelsea, Fulham, Kensington etc. * James Frederic Ferguson (1807–1855), Irish antiquary born in Charleston, South Carolina * Thomas Fisher (1772–1826) * Rev. George Glasse (1761–1809), chaplain and a Fellow of the Royal Society * Sir Andrew Halliday (1782–1839), Scottish physician, reformer, and writer * Sir John Hawkins (1719–1789), English author and friend of Samuel Johnson and Horace Walpole * Rev. William Hawkins (1722–1801), English clergyman, poet, and dramatist * Susanna Highmore (1690–1750), minor British poet * Samuel Johnson (1709–1784) * Andrew Kippis (1725–1795), English nonconformist

and

biographer Biographers are authors who write an account of another person's life, while autobiographers are authors who write their own biography. Biographers Countries of working life: Ab=Arabia, AG=Ancient Greece, Al=Australia, Am=Armenian, AR=Ancient Rome ...

* Rev. John Langhorne (1735–1779),

clergyman, poet and co-translator of

Plutarch Plutarch (; grc-gre, Πλούταρχος, ''Ploútarchos''; ; – after AD 119) was a Greek Middle Platonist philosopher, historian, biographer, essayist, and priest at the Temple of Apollo in Delphi. He is known primarily for hi ...

's ''

Lives Lives may refer to: * The plural form of a '' life'' * Lives, Iran, a village in Khuzestan Province, Iran * The number of lives in a video game * '' Parallel Lives'', aka ''Lives of the Noble Greeks and Romans'', a series of biographies of famous ...

'' * William Lauder (c. 1680–1771), Scottish literary forger; article on John Milton's '' Paradise Lost'' was largely a plagiarism of earlier works * Sir Sidney Lee (1859–1926) * John Lockman (1698–1771), English author * Michael Lort (1725–1790), Welsh clergyman, academic, and antiquary * William Markham (1719–1807), English divine and archbishop of York * Arthur Murphy (1727–1805),

Irish Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...

writer * Laetitia Pilkington (c.1709 to 1750),

Dublin Dublin (; , or ) is the capital and largest city of Ireland. On a bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the province of Leinster, bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, a part of the Wicklow Mountains range. At the 2016 c ...

-born author and friend 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, Dubl ...

* Robert Riccaltoun (1691–1769), Scottish Presbyterian divine and friend of poet James Thomson (1700–1748) *

William Roscoe William Roscoe (8 March 175330 June 1831) was an English banker, lawyer, and briefly a Member of Parliament. He is best known as one of England's first abolitionists, and as the author of the poem for children ''The Butterfly's Ball, and the G ...

(1753–1831), English historian and miscellaneous writer; poetry by him first appeared in the magazine in 1807 * Richard Savage (c. 1697–1743), English poet * George Stephens (1813–1895), English archeologist and philologist who worked in Scandinavia *

(1667–1745), Anglo-Irish satirist, essayist, political pamphleteer (first for the Whigs, then for the Tories), poet and cleric who became

Dean Dean may refer to: People * Dean (given name) * Dean (surname), a surname of Anglo-Saxon English origin * Dean (South Korean singer), a stage name for singer Kwon Hyuk * Dean Delannoit, a Belgian singer most known by the mononym Dean Titles * ...

of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin * Captain Philip Thicknesse (1719–1792) * James Thomson (1700–1748), Scottish poet and playwright best known for his masterpiece '' The Seasons'' and the lyrics of "

Rule, Britannia! "Rule, Britannia!" is a British patriotic song, originating from the 1740 poem "Rule, Britannia" by James Thomson and set to music by Thomas Arne in the same year. It is most strongly associated with the Royal Navy, but is also used by the ...

" * Nigel Tourneur (18??–18??), pseudonym of a

fin de siècle () is a French term meaning "end of century,” a phrase which typically encompasses both the meaning of the similar English idiom "turn of the century" and also makes reference to the closing of one era and onset of another. Without context, ...

writer known for one work only—''Hidden Witchery'', a collection of seven short stories and a short prose drama * Thomas Tyrwhitt (1730–1786), English classical scholar and critic * Michael Tyson (antiquary) (1740–1780),

clergyman, academic, antiquary and artist * Richard Weston (botanist) (1733–1806) * Charles Woodmason (c. 1720–1789), English-born American poet * Edward Young (1681–1765), English poet, best remembered for ''

Night-Thoughts ''The Complaint: or, Night-Thoughts on Life, Death, & Immortality'', better known simply as ''Night-Thoughts'', is a long poem by Edward Young published in nine parts (or "nights") between 1742 and 1745. It was illustrated with notable engrav ...

Associated artists, painters, topographers

(fl. 1799–1829) English topographer and

* Thomas Faulkner (1775–1855), topographer * John Gibson (1750–1792), cartographer * Moses Griffith (1749–1819), Welsh draughtsman, engraver, and water colourist * William George Moss, chief illustrator c.1819 * Bartholomew Howlett (1767–1827), English draughtsman and engraver * Samuel Rawle (1771–1860), English topographical engraver and draughtsman

References

External links

* *
''The Gentleman's Magazine''
archives at

Internet Archive The Internet Archive is an American digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It provides free public access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, software applications/games, music, ...

.
''The Gentleman's Magazine''
archives at

Google Books Google Books (previously known as Google Book Search, Google Print, and by its code-name Project Ocean) is a service from Google Inc. that searches the full text of books and magazines that Google has scanned, converted to text using optical ...

.
Bodleian Internet Library of Early Journals: A digital library of 18th and 19th Century journals
including ''The Gentleman's Magazine'', vols 1–20 (1731–50)

*''A Selection of Curious Articles from the Gentleman's Magazine'', John Walker, Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown, 181
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* {{DEFAULTSORT:Gentlemans Magazine, The 1731 establishments in England 1922 disestablishments in England Defunct magazines published in the United Kingdom Magazines published in England Magazines established in 1731 Magazines disestablished in 1922 Magazines published in London News magazines published in the United Kingdom