David Douglas
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David Douglas FRSE FSA (1823 – 1916) was a Scottish publisher in the
19th century. He was publisher of works by authors including John Stuart
Blackie and Dr John Brown. In later life he formed half of the
successful Edinburgh publishing business Edmonston & Douglas. The latter
were responsible for a highly popular set of animal prints aimed at
children. His final partnership was called Douglas & Foulis.
Douglas was born in Stranraer in south-west Scotland the son of William
Douglas(1) and Sophia Black, and attended school in Whithorn.
Douglas went to Edinburgh, probably around 1837, as a printer's
apprentice. He soon after joined the staff of William Blackwood & Sons.
Gaining confidence and skill he set up his own printworks. In 1847 he
formed a partnership to create Edmonston and Douglas, based at 87
Princes Street, which lasted 30 years. On the death of his partner
Alexander Edmonston in 1877 he formed a new company with Thomas Foulis,
named Douglas & Foulis, which lasted until his death. Douglas & Foulis
appear to have operated a popular circulating library(2) in the early 20th
century, which, for a cost of one guinea per year, a member could borrow
one book per month, and for ten guineas per year 30 books per month
could be borrowed.
Douglas was for many years Editor of the Proceedings of the Society of
Antiquaries of Scotland. In 1866 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal
Society of Edinburgh his proposer being Alexander Campbell Fraser. From
1891 to 1909 he conducted a prolonged correspondence with William Winter
in New York City.
In later life his business was at 10 Castle Street and his house at 22
Drummond Place, both in Edinburgh.[6] In these final years he moved from
his earlier more intellectual and historical focus to the republishing
of American novels in Britain as cheap editions.
Douglas died of pneumonia in Edinburgh on 4 April 1916.
Following his death most ongoing work was absorbed by Thomas Noble
Foulis (Foulis’ son) who had set up his own business T. N. Foulis in
1903. The firm later evolved into Hunter & Foulis.
He was married to Sarah Burns Millidge.
His daughter, Sarah Wyse Douglas (d.1886), married the oceanographer,
Sir William Abbott Herdman.
DOUGLAS, DAVID. ?-04/04/1916. Male.
Place of Birth: Stranraer,
Wigtownshire.
Place of Death: Edinburgh.
Profession: Publisher.
Appointments Held: Staff, Messrs Blackwood, Publishers, Edinburgh;
1847-77 Edmonston & Douglas, Publishers;
1877-1916, Douglas & Foulis,
Publishers.
Schools and Tutors: Whithorn School, Wigtownshire.
Other Family: father-in-law of William Abbott Herdman, FRSE 1858-1924.
References: Proc Roy Soc Edinb, 37, 1916-17, 14; Who Was Who 2.
Memberships: Philosophical Institution of Edinburgh.
Date of
Election: 15/01/1866.
Proposers: Alexander Campbell Fraser (Billet
2/1/1866).
Notes: Born 1823. Editor of "Proceedings of The Society of
Antiquaries of Scotland.".
Fellow Type: OF.
Fellow of the Royal Society of
Edinburgh
Notes:
1. William Douglas was born circa 1786 and died 39th
April 1831 in Stranraer, Wigtownshire, Scotland
2. My grandmother was a subscriber. I well remember as
each box arrived, the previous set of books was packed up and returned in their
cardboard box.
Any contributions will be
gratefully accepted
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