Irvine, Ayreshire, Scotland

Alexander Macmillan was born to a crofter's family in Irvine, Ayreshire, Scotland, in 1818. Together with his brother, Daniel, Alexander moveds south to England and co-founded the Macmillan publishing house in 1843. When Daniel died in 1857, Alexander took over the business and built it into a global publishing empire, with offices in New York as well as across the empire, including Canadia, India, and South Africa. A trade publisher, Macmillan brought out a variety of publications, including magazines, educational material, and literature. Macmillan also published Victorian illustrated books, including both illustrated editions of Christina Rossetti's Goblin Market: the 1862 edition, illustrated by the poet's brother Dante Gabriel; and the 1893 edition, illustrated by Laurence Housman. Macmillan also brought out both of Lewis Carroll's Alice books, illustrated by Tenniel. 

Parent Map

Victorian Illustrated Books Map

Coordinates

Latitude: 55.611566900000
Longitude: -4.669636400000

Timeline of Events Associated with Irvine, Ayreshire, Scotland

Date Event Manage
1843

Macmillan and Co Founded

Macmillan and Company, one of the most important publishing houses of the Victorian period, was founded in Cambridge in 1843 by the Scottish brothers Alexander and Daniel Macmillan. As befitted a university town and its clientele, the publishing house focused on academic literature in its first ten years, before branching into fiction. After Daniel died, Alexander moved the headquarters of the firm to London in 1858 and continued to expand the range of literature he published. Macmillan's Magazine, a shilling monthly, was launched in 1859. In the 1860s Macmillan published illustrated books by two Victorian authors who have retained readerships up to the present. Macmillan published both 19th century illustrated editions of Christina Rossetti's Goblin Market: the 1862 edition, illustrated by the poet's brother Dante Gabriel; and the 1893 edition, illustrated by Laurence Housman. Macmillan also brought out both of Lewis Carroll's Alice books, illustrated by John Tenniel. 

 Photographic Portrait of Alexander Macmillan, age about 73 Photograph of Alexander Macmillan, 1891