Nichols, J. B. (John Bowyer), 1779-1863

John Bowyer Nichols was born in London, 1779, and went on to be schooled at St Paul's School, London. In 1796 he entered his father's printing office and began part editorship of The Gentleman's Magazine , of which, by 1837, he was sole proprietor. For a short time he was printer to the Corporation of the City of London. In 1850 he became Master of the Stationer's Company. He published many county histories as well as significant works such as The Literary History of the Eighteenth Century . He died in Ealing, 1863. John Gough Nichols, son of John Bowyer Nichols, was born in London in 1806. He published his first work, Progress of James I in 1828 and went on to become joint editor of The Gentleman's Magazine in 1851. He was a founding member of the Camden Society, 1838. In 1856 ill health forced him to give up The Gentleman's Magazine and he dedicated his time to Literary Remains of Edward VI (1857-8). Like his father, he published many county histories and volumes of antiquary concern. He died in 1873.

From the guide to the Nichols, John Bowyer (1779-1863) and Nichols, John Gough (1806-1873), 1819-1870, (Senate House Library, University of London)

Printer and antiquary, John Bowyer Nichols was son of printer John Nichols, whom he succeeded as a printer of notes and proceedings of the British Parliament. Nichols supervised the printing of many of the most important county histories published in England in the first part of the 19th century.

From the description of Scrapbook of book values relating to topography and local history, ca. 1845. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122577040

John Nichols (1745-1826), English printer and writer, edited the Gentlemen's Magazine from 1778 to 1826, as well as editing and publishing literary and historical works, including the works of Jonathan Swift in nineteen volumes (1801).

John Bowyer Nichols (1779-1863), the son of John Nichols, succeeded his father as editor of the Gentleman's Magazine and published many important county histories. His son, John Gough Nichols (1806-1873), also edited the Gentleman's Magazine and contributed to the study of English geneaology.

From the description of Nichols family correspondence, ca. 1780-1870. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 82555225

John Nichols (1745-1826), English master printer, editor, author, and antiquarian, inherited his printing business from his partner William Bowyer. Nichols printed for learned societies and published many county histories, including his own History and Antiquities of the Town and County of Leicester (1795-1812). Nichols purchased a share in the popular Gentleman's Magazine in 1778; he and his descendants edited and printed the monthly until 1856. He also produced collections of literary anecdotes of eighteenth century authors, a biography of Hogarth, and literary editions. In 1810 he became a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in London.

John Bowyer Nichols (1779-1863), the son of John Nichols by his second wife, succeeded his father as owner of Nichols & Co. and as editor of the Gentleman's Magazine. He too was a noted antiquarian, publishing a number of county histories and printing many antiquarian articles in his magazine. His extensive involvement in the Parliamentary printing business resulted in his testifying twice before Parliamentary commissions investigating the high cost of official printing. Nichols was a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and an original member of the Novomagians, their select dining club. His many antiquarian works included Historical Notices of Fonthill Abbey, Wiltshire (1836).

John Gough Nichols (1806-1873), the eldest son of John Bowyer Nichols, began attending meetings of the Society of Antiquaries with his father when he was twelve years old. Nichols grew up to become a prominent antiquarian, helping to found the Camden Society (1838), the Archaeological Institute (1844), and the London and Middlesex Archaeological Society (1855). Among his publications are Autographs of Royal, Noble, Learned and Remarkable Personages (1829) and Examples of Decorative Tiles, Sometimes termed Encaustic (1841–5). While he was best known as an antiquary and scholar, he continued to run the family printing business until his death in 1873, and he edited the Gentleman's Magazine until its sale in 1856.

From the guide to the Nichols family correspondence, 1769-1873, (Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library)