Background
Archibald Constable was born on the 24th of February 1774 at Carnbee, Fife. His father was land steward to the earl of Kellie.
Archibald Constable was born on the 24th of February 1774 at Carnbee, Fife. His father was land steward to the earl of Kellie.
Archibald Constable bought the Scots Magazine in 1801, and John Leyden, the orientalist, became its editor.
In 1805, jointly with Longman & Co. , Constable published Scott's Lay of the Last Minstrel, and in 1807 Marmion.
In 1813, however, a reconciliation took place.
In 1812 Constable, who had admitted Robert Cathcart and Robert Cadell as partners on the retirement of A. G. Hunter, purchased the copyright of the Encyclopaedia Britannica, adding the supplement (6 vols. , 1816 - 1824) to the 4th, 5th and 6th editions (see Encyclopaedia).
In 1814 he bought the copyright of Waverley.
This was issued anonymously; but in a short time 12, poo copies were disposed of, Scott's other novels following in quick succession.
The firm also published the Annual Register.
Through over-speculation, complications in Constable's business arose, and in 1826 a crash came.
Constable's London agents stopped payment, and he failed for over £250, 000, while James Ballantyne & Co. also went bankrupt for nearly £90, 000.
Sir Walter Scott was involved in the failure of both firms.
The result of its publication was that the debt on Abbotsford was redeemed, and that Cadell bought the estate of Ratho near Edinburgh, which he owned till his death on the 216t of January 1849.
Constable was married to Mary Willison.