COLBURN

colburn, henry (d. 1855), british publisher, obtained his earliest experience of bookselling in london at the establishment of w. earle, albemarle street, and afterwards as an assistant at morgan's library, conduit street, of which in 1816 he became proprietor. he afterwards removed to new burlington street, where he established himself as a publisher, resigning the conduit street library to messrs saunders & otley. in 1814 he originated the _new monthly magazine_, of which at various times thomas campbell, bulwer lytton, theodore hook and harrison ainsworth were editors. colburn published in 1818 _evelyn's diary_, and in 1825 the _diary of pepys_, edited by lord braybrooke, paying £2200 for the copyright. he also issued disraeli's first novel, _vivian grey_, and a large number of other works by theodore hook, g. p. r. james, marryat and bulwer lytton. in 1829 richard bentley (q.v.) was taken into partnership; and in 1832 colburn retired, but set up again soon afterwards independently in great marlborough street; his business was taken over in 1841 by messrs hurst & blackett. henry colburn died on the 16th of august 1855, leaving property to the value of £35,000.