John Newbery (1713–1767) is renowned for his prominent contribution in establishing the first “children’s-book-only publishing house” (Timnell and Jacobs, 81) and creating a “permanent and profitable market” for British children’s books (Grenby, 5). While not the first publisher to print for children, “Newbery was one of the first publishers to view children as consumers” and contributed to the development of children’s literature in the eighteenth century (Dawson, 176). Newbery is remembered in the American children’s book prize, The John Newbery Medal, first awarded in 1922.
John Newbery was born in Waltham St. Lawrence, Berkshire, England to farmer Robert Newbery and an unnamed mother (Welsh 1). His familial association with publishing can be traced back to
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Citation: Price, Pamela. "John Newbery". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 03 March 2023 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=3325, accessed 26 November 2024.]
