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lcnaf Library of Congress Name Authority File lcsh Library of Congress Subject Headings created 2012 May 24 human M.K.K. Yearl Library of Congress Control Number: n 88007820 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography person Cadell, T., (Thomas), 1742-1802 lcnaf Cadell, Thomas. 1742-1802 lcnaf Cadel, T. (Thomas), 1742-1802 lcnaf Thomas Cadell 1742 November 12 1802 December 27 birth Bristol (England) 1742 residence London (England) 1758 1802 male English booksellers publishers stationers Thomas Cadell was born in Bristol on 12 November 1742, but spent most of his life in London. When Cadell was fifteen, his father sent him to be an apprentice to Andrew Millar (1707-1768), a well-regarded publisher and bookseller who had supported the publication of Samuel Johnson's Dictionary. After seven years, Cadell became a partner in the business and finally took it over when Millar retired in 1767. His clients and friends were among the most influential literary and intellectual figures of the eighteenth century and included Fanny Burney (1752-1840), Robert Burns (1759-1796), David Hume (1711-1776), Samuel Johnson (1709-1784), Hannah More (1745-1833), Adam Smith (1723-1790), and Tobias Smollett (1721-1771). When Cadell retired in 1793, he gave his business to his son, Thomas Cadell (1773-1836) and his former assistant, William Davies (d. 1820). Before his death from an asthma attack in 1802, he enjoyed an active retirement, fulfilling many charitable and public positions, including governor of the Foundling Hospital and sheriff in the Walbrook ward of London. 1742 November 12 Born in Bristol. 1758 March 7 Apprenticed to bookseller and publisher Andrew Millar. 1765 April Became business partner to Andrew Millar. 1767 Took over publishing and bookselling business upon Millar's retirement. 1769 April 1 Married the daughter of the Reverend Thomas Jones. 1786 January Death of Cadell's wife. 1793 Retired; left business to be run jointly by his son, Thomas Cadell, and his assistant, William Davies. 1795 Became a governor of the Foundling Hospital in London. 1798 March 30 Elected alderman of Walbrook ward, City of London. 1798 1799 Master of the Stationers' Company. 1800 Stockkeeper of the Stationers' Company. 1800 1801> Served in the office of the sheriff, Walbrook ward, City of London. 1802 December 27 Died from an asthma attack at home in Bloomsbury Place.

Thomas Cadell was born in Bristol on 12 November 1742 to William and Mary Cadell. At the age of fifteen, he became an apprentice to the eminent London bookseller and publisher Andrew Millar. In London, he rose to prominence as the publisher of some of the most successful works of the eighteenth century, including many by Samuel Johson, Edward Gibbon, and Fanny Burney.

At the age of twenty-one, Cadell became Millar's partner; two years later, he took over the business when Millar retired. Cadell maintained the business in the same location in the Strand and is said also to have carried on Millar's inclination towards generous payments to authors. Where Millar had given financial support to Johnson's A Dictionary of the English Language, Cadell gave Mrs. Piozzi five hundred for her Letters to Samuel Johnson. On occasion, he partnered with other emininent booksellers, including William and (later) Andrew Strahan.

The list of clients Cadell served amounts to a summary of influential authors of the time. In 1770, he issued David Hume's Essays and Treatises on Several Subjects; from 1776-1788, he published Edward Gibbon's multi-volume History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. From 1787 on, he published the poetry of Robert Burns. He was also a friend of Samuel Johnson and published several of his works, including The Works of English Poets. Other authors who published with Cadell included Fanny Burney, Hannah More, Hester Piozzi, Adam Smith, and Tobias Smollett.

It was the comfort of his position as a publisher that allowed Cadell to marry the daughter of the Reverend Thomas Jones on 1 April 1769. They had two children: a daughter who married the chaplain to King George III, Dr. Charles Lucas Eldridge, and a son, Thomas Cadell the younger. It was to his son as well as his assistant, William Davies, that Cadell turned over his business upon his retirement in 1793. Even in retirement, Cadell remained an active member of society: he was a governor of the Foundling Hospital, treasurer of the Asylum, master of the Stationers' Company, and alderman and sheriff for the ward of Walbrook in the City of London. Cadell died of an asthma attack on 27 December 1802.

Highlights of Cadell's publishing career:

1770 David Hume's "Essays and Treatises on Several Subjects." circa 1770 circa 1780 1770s: Samuel Johnson's political tracts. 1771 Henry Mackenzie's "The Man of Feeling." 1775 Samuel Johnson's "Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland." 1776 1788 Edward Gibbon's "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire." 1779 1781 Samuel Johnson's "The Works of English Poets." 1785 Samuel Johnson's posthumous "Prayers and Meditations." 1786 Hester Piozzi's "Anecdotes of the Late Samuel Johnson." 1787 Began publishing the poetry of Robert Burns. 1788 Hester Piozzi's "Letters to Samuel Johnson." Burney, Fanny, 1752-1840

Published her works.

Cadell & Davies

Firm began when Cadell bequeathed his business his son, Thomas Cadell the younger (1773-1836) and assistant, William Davies (d. 1820).

Gibbon, Edward, 1737-1794

Published Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire giving him nearly two-thirds of profits from sales.

Johnson, Samuel, 1709-1784

Friend and publisher of Johnson.

Millar, Andrew, 1707-1768

First an apprentice to and later a business partner to Millar; named an executor when Millar died in 1768.

More, Hannah, 1745-1833

Published her works.

Smollett, T. (Tobias), 1721-1771

Published his works.

Strahan, William, 1715-1785

Occasional partner with Strahan.

Autograph File: G.

Contains: Receipt for the profits from the first and second editions of Edward Gibbon's History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire; also signed by Thomas Cadell.

Autographs of English literati Book trade collection Burney family collection Cadell & Davies records General Collection manuscript miscellany Frederick W. Hilles manuscript collection Herman W. Liebert manuscript collection Manuscripts Bound in Printed Books in the Osborn Collection Hester Lynch Piozzi collection, 1776-1930 Osborn Manuscript Files