Edward Kimber (1719–1769) was an English novelist, journalist and compiler of reference works.

Life

He was son of Isaac Kimber; and in early life apprentice to a bookseller, John Noon of

Cheapside Cheapside is a street in the City of London, the historic and modern financial centre of London, England, which forms part of the A40 road, A40 London to Fishguard road. It links St Martin's Le Grand with Poultry, London, Poultry. Near its eas ...

. He made a living by compilation and editorial work for booksellers. Kimber spent the years 1742 to 1744 in

British North America British North America comprised the colonial territories of the British Empire in North America from 1783 onwards. English colonisation of North America began in the 16th century in Newfoundland, then further south at Roanoke and Jamestown, ...

, and drew on his travels in subsequent writing. In 1745–6 he published a series of ''Itinerant Observations in America'' in ''

The London Magazine ''The London Magazine'' is the title of six different publications that have appeared in succession since 1732. All six have focused on the arts, literature and poetry. A number of Nobel Laureates, including Annie Ernaux, Albert Camus, Doris Les ...

'', at that point edited by his father.

Works

Kimber wrote: *''A Relation, or Journal, of a Late Expedition to the Gates of St. Augustine, on Florida'' (1744). Kimber had served in the militia of

James Oglethorpe Lieutenant-General James Edward Oglethorpe (22 December 1696 – 30 June 1785) was a British Army officer, Tory politician and colonial administrator best known for founding the Province of Georgia in British North America. As a social refo ...

, and participated in a raid in 1743 that was a sequel to the 1740 siege of

St. Augustine, Florida St. Augustine ( ; ) is a city in and the county seat of St. Johns County, Florida, United States. Located 40 miles (64 km) south of downtown Jacksonville, the city is on the Atlantic coast of northeastern Florida. Founded in 1565 by Spani ...

. * ''The Life and Adventures of Joe Thompson, a Narrative founded on fact, written by himself'' non. 2 vols., London, 1750; other editions, 1751, 1775, 1783. A French translation appeared in 1762. A "ramble novel", it sold well at the time, and was then condemned to neglect. * ''The History of the Life and Adventures of Mr. Anderson'' (1754). A

sentimental novel The sentimental novel or the novel of sensibility is an 18th- and 19th-century literary genre which presents and celebrates the concepts of sentiment, sentimentalism, and sensibility. Sentimentalism, which is to be distinguished from sensi ...

, it was based on a real-life narrative Kimber had heard in Georgia. Kimber denounced

slavery Slavery is the ownership of a person as property, especially in regards to their labour. Slavery typically involves compulsory work, with the slave's location of work and residence dictated by the party that holds them in bondage. Enslavemen ...

, but is now found to be equivocal on the related issue, in the American context, of

white supremacy White supremacy is the belief that white people are superior to those of other races. The belief favors the maintenance and defense of any power and privilege held by white people. White supremacy has roots in the now-discredited doctrine ...

. * ''The Life and Adventures of James Ramble'' (1754) * ''The Juvenile Adventures of David Ranger'' (1756) * ''The Life, Extraordinary Adventures, Voyages, and Surprizing Escapes of Capt. Neville Frowde, of Cork'' (1758) * ''The Happy Orphans'' (1759), translation from the French. The French original of 1754 was itself imitated from the ''Fortunate Foundlings'' of

Eliza Haywood Eliza Haywood (c. 1693 – 25 February 1756), born Elizabeth Fowler, was an English writer, actress and publisher. An increase in interest and recognition of Haywood's literary works began in the 1980s. Described as "prolific even by the standar ...

. * ''Maria: The Genuine Memoirs of an Admired Lady of Rank and Fortune'' (1764) * ''The Generous Briton: or, the Authentic Memoirs of William Goldsmith'' (1765) * ''The Peerage of England'', London, 1766; 2nd edit. 1769. * ''The Peerage of Scotland'', London, 1767. * ''The Peerage of Ireland'', London, 1768. * ''The Extinct Peerage of England'', London, 1769. He also wrote memoirs of his father, together with a poem to his memory, prefixed to Isaac Kimber's ''Sermons'', 1756. With Richard Johnson he edited and continued Thomas Wooton's ''Baronetage of England'', 3 vols., London, 1771.

Notes

;Attribution {{DEFAULTSORT:Kimber, Edward 1719 births 1769 deaths 18th-century English novelists English male journalists English genealogists English male novelists 18th-century English male writers