John George Cochrane
Encyclopedia
John George Cochrane was a Scottish editor and bibliographer
, also a librarian, with a general knowledge of literary history.
, where his father was engaged in the law. Having received some education he was placed with a bookseller, but set out to seek his fortune in London
before he was twenty. Here, after a residence of some years, he entered into partnership with John White, and the firm of White, Cochrane Co. carried on an extensive business in Fleet Street
, until they became involved in the major trade ruin which followed the failure of Archibald Constable
.
Cochrane later became manager of the foreign bookselling house of Messrs. Treuttel, Wurtz, Treuttel junior, and Richter of Soho Square
, who published in July 1827 the first number of the Foreign Quarterly Review. The editorship was accepted by Cochrane. The review was brought out by the same firm to the twenty-fourth number (October 1833) inclusive, and by their successor, Adolphus Richter, to the twenty-seventh (August 1834). The twenty-eighth number (December 1834) was issued by Cochrane at his own risk. Richter became bankrupt on 9 December 1834, and Cochrane established Cochrane's Foreign Quarterly Review (1835); but only two numbers appeared. The Foreign Quarterly Review came to an end in 1846, and was then incorporated with the 'Westminster Review.' Cochrane was an unsuccessful candidate for the librarianship of the Faculty of Advocates in Edinburgh, and for some time in that city acted as the editor of the Caledonian Mercury
.
Cochrane later lived for some time at Hertford
as editor of a local newspaper. On 17 February 1841 he became the first secretary and librarian of the London Library
, founded in the previous year.
He died at his apartments in the library, St. James's Square
, on 11 May 1852, in his seventy-second year.
, 'The Case stated between the Public Libraries and the Booksellers' (anon. 1813), calling attention to the hardship suffered by publishers, who were then obliged, under the Copyright Act
, to supply copies of their most expensive books to eleven public libraries. He and his partner were examined before the parliamentary committee of 1813. The minutes of evidence include a list of works, such as James Sowerby
's English Botany
, Aylmer Bourke Lambert
's Genus Pinus, &c., published by them. The select committee
of 1818 recommended that only five copies should be claimed for public libraries in future, which was made law by the statute of 1835.
An friendship with Robert Cadell
caused him to be chosen to catalogue Sir Walter Scott's library at Abbotsford
. It was necessary to print the catalogue, and extra copies were struck off for members of the Maitland and Bannatyne Clubs (1838). References to passages in Scott's writings connected with the books throw light on Scott's literary history. The first catalogue of the London Library (1842) was issued by Cochrane. In 1847 an enlarged edition of the catalogue appeared, and a short time before his death a supplementary volume, in which a general classified index is announced.
He also published The English Works of Roger Ascham
, preceptor to Queen Elizabeth, a new edition [ed. by J. G. Cochrane], London, 1815, which includes a life by Samuel Johnson
.
Bibliographer
"A bibliographer is a person who describes and lists books and other publications, with particular attention to such characteristics as authorship, publication date, edition, typography, etc. The result of this endeavor is a bibliography...
, also a librarian, with a general knowledge of literary history.
Life
Cochrane was born in GlasgowGlasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, where his father was engaged in the law. Having received some education he was placed with a bookseller, but set out to seek his fortune in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
before he was twenty. Here, after a residence of some years, he entered into partnership with John White, and the firm of White, Cochrane Co. carried on an extensive business in Fleet Street
Fleet Street
Fleet Street is a street in central London, United Kingdom, named after the River Fleet, a stream that now flows underground. It was the home of the British press until the 1980s...
, until they became involved in the major trade ruin which followed the failure of Archibald Constable
Archibald Constable
Archibald Constable was a Scottish publisher, bookseller and stationer.He was born at Carnbee, Fife, as the son of the land steward to the Earl of Kellie. In 1788 Archibald was apprenticed to Peter Hill, an Edinburgh bookseller, but in 1795 he started in business for himself as a dealer in rare...
.
Cochrane later became manager of the foreign bookselling house of Messrs. Treuttel, Wurtz, Treuttel junior, and Richter of Soho Square
Soho Square
Soho Square is a square in Soho, London, England, with a park and garden area at its centre that dates back to 1681. It was originally called King Square after Charles II, whose statue stands in the square. At the centre of the garden, there is a distinctive half-timbered gardener's hut...
, who published in July 1827 the first number of the Foreign Quarterly Review. The editorship was accepted by Cochrane. The review was brought out by the same firm to the twenty-fourth number (October 1833) inclusive, and by their successor, Adolphus Richter, to the twenty-seventh (August 1834). The twenty-eighth number (December 1834) was issued by Cochrane at his own risk. Richter became bankrupt on 9 December 1834, and Cochrane established Cochrane's Foreign Quarterly Review (1835); but only two numbers appeared. The Foreign Quarterly Review came to an end in 1846, and was then incorporated with the 'Westminster Review.' Cochrane was an unsuccessful candidate for the librarianship of the Faculty of Advocates in Edinburgh, and for some time in that city acted as the editor of the Caledonian Mercury
Caledonian Mercury
Caledonian Mercury was the name of a Scottish newspaper, published three times a week between 1720-1867. Numbers published from 1800 on are available online for registered users of the National Library of Scotland website....
.
Cochrane later lived for some time at Hertford
Hertford
Hertford is the county town of Hertfordshire, England, and is also a civil parish in the East Hertfordshire district of the county. Forming a civil parish, the 2001 census put the population of Hertford at about 24,180. Recent estimates are that it is now around 28,000...
as editor of a local newspaper. On 17 February 1841 he became the first secretary and librarian of the London Library
London Library
The London Library is the world's largest independent lending library, and the UK's leading literary institution. It is located in the City of Westminster, London, England, United Kingdom....
, founded in the previous year.
He died at his apartments in the library, St. James's Square
St. James's Square
St. James's Square is the only square in the exclusive St James's district of the City of Westminster. It has predominantly Georgian and neo-Georgian architecture and a private garden in the centre...
, on 11 May 1852, in his seventy-second year.
Works
Cochrane wrote a pamphletPamphlet
A pamphlet is an unbound booklet . It may consist of a single sheet of paper that is printed on both sides and folded in half, in thirds, or in fourths , or it may consist of a few pages that are folded in half and saddle stapled at the crease to make a simple book...
, 'The Case stated between the Public Libraries and the Booksellers' (anon. 1813), calling attention to the hardship suffered by publishers, who were then obliged, under the Copyright Act
Copyright Act
Copyright Act may refer to:Canada* Copyright Act of CanadaHong Kong*Copyright Ordinance 1997India*New Zealand* Copyright Act 1994United Kingdom...
, to supply copies of their most expensive books to eleven public libraries. He and his partner were examined before the parliamentary committee of 1813. The minutes of evidence include a list of works, such as James Sowerby
James Sowerby
James Sowerby was an English naturalist and illustrator. Contributions to published works, such as A Specimen of the Botany of New Holland or English Botany, include his detailed and appealing plates...
's English Botany
English Botany
English Botany is the title of a major publication of British plants, an enormous set of volumes that was issued between 1790 and 1813. The brief, but formal descriptions were supplied by the founder of the Linnean Society, James Edward Smith, and published and illustrated by the botanical...
, Aylmer Bourke Lambert
Aylmer Bourke Lambert
Aylmer Bourke Lambert was a British botanist, one of the first fellows of the Linnean Society.He is best known for his work A description of the genus Pinus, issued in several parts 1803-1824, a sumptuously illustrated folio volume detailing all of the conifers then known...
's Genus Pinus, &c., published by them. The select committee
Select committee
A select committee is a special subcommittee of a legislature or assembly governed under a committee system, like Robert's Rules of Order. They are often investigative in nature, collecting data or evidence for a law or problem, and will dissolve immediately after they report their findings to...
of 1818 recommended that only five copies should be claimed for public libraries in future, which was made law by the statute of 1835.
An friendship with Robert Cadell
Robert Cadell
Robert Cadell was a bookseller and publisher closely associated with Sir Walter Scott. He was born at Cockenzie, East Lothian, Scotland, the fifth son of John Cadell, a Laird of Cockenzie, and Marie Buchan, his wife....
caused him to be chosen to catalogue Sir Walter Scott's library at Abbotsford
Abbotsford
Abbotsford may refer to a place in:Australia* Abbotsford, New South Wales, a suburb of Sydney, Australia* Abbotsford, Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne, AustraliaCanada* Abbotsford, British Columbia, a city in Canada...
. It was necessary to print the catalogue, and extra copies were struck off for members of the Maitland and Bannatyne Clubs (1838). References to passages in Scott's writings connected with the books throw light on Scott's literary history. The first catalogue of the London Library (1842) was issued by Cochrane. In 1847 an enlarged edition of the catalogue appeared, and a short time before his death a supplementary volume, in which a general classified index is announced.
He also published The English Works of Roger Ascham
Roger Ascham
Roger Ascham was an English scholar and didactic writer, famous for his prose style, his promotion of the vernacular, and his theories of education...
, preceptor to Queen Elizabeth, a new edition [ed. by J. G. Cochrane], London, 1815, which includes a life by Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson , often referred to as Dr. Johnson, was an English author who made lasting contributions to English literature as a poet, essayist, moralist, literary critic, biographer, editor and lexicographer...
.