McGLASHAN, James (1804-1858) — Dublin
Bookseller & publisher. Published ‘Dublin and its environs : with a map of the city’ 1846; ‘The county atlas of Ireland, drawn and engraved by John Kirkwood’ (see BME 2011) 1848 — only the first instalment, with four maps, ever appeared; James Fraser, ‘Handbook of the lakes of Killarney’ 1849, with a map; James Fraser, Fraser’s travelling map of Ireland : shewing all the towns, lakes, rivers, roads and railways 1851, engraved by Alexander Hay (see BME 2011); Panoramic view of Killarney, from the summit of Mangerton 1851; ‘The Irish tourist’s illustrated handbook for visitors to Ireland’ 1852, with numerous maps; Edward Graves Mayne, ‘An inquiry into the foreign systems of registering dealings with land by means of maps and indexes’ 1852; James Fraser, ‘Hand book for Dublin and its environs : with map of the city, and street-maps on an entirely new plan’ 1853, the maps lithographed by William McIvor Morison; Joseph Huband Smith, ‘A day at Howth; or, guide to its most prominent objects of interest’ 1853, with a map by Morison, etc. Also published a very wide range of other material.
Born in Edinburgh 4 Feb 1804, the son of James McGlashan and his wife Janet Napier (1778?-1849), who had married in 1800. He worked for William Blackwood (see BME 2011) before moving to Dublin, where he worked with William Curry from 1830, becoming a partner in 1837. He started a separate business in 1846. In 1853, he was given a testimonial — “The testimonial consisted of a tea and coffee service, beautifully designed from one of the most celebrated Dresden patterns, and wrought in an elaborate and artistic manner, of Irish silver — a large salver and claret jug finished to correspond. The centre of the salver contained an elegant design, with the following inscription:— January, MDCCCLIII. Dublin University Magazine. — No. 241. To James McGlashan, Esq., From his Friends and Admirers, in testimony of the eminent services rendered by him to Literature. The testimonial was of purely Irish manufacture and was from the workshop of Mr. Thomas Bennett, Grafton Street” (Belfast News-Letter, 14 Jan 1853). The gathering was addressed by the novelist Charles Lever. McGlashan died aged fifty-four at 23 York Place, Edinburgh, 4 Mar 1858 and was buried in Edinburgh Cemetery 8 Mar 1858. “For a quarter of century Mr. McGlashan devoted the energies of a sagacious intellect, and clear practical mind, to promote and foster the literature and the literary men of this country. As partner the house of William Curry, Jun., and Co., he directed his attention to extend and improve the publication of works in Ireland. He willingly co-operated with the originators of the Dublin University Magazine in 1833, and his exertions and judgment conducted it through the first year of its struggle. Separating from Mr. Curry in 1846, he became the principal publisher our city … But the care and anxiety of a business becoming daily more extended, and to which devoted the whole energies of his mind, at last impaired his health irretrievably, and he retired in 1855 from an establishment which he was no longer able to manage. No man of our times has done more for the literature of Ireland than James McGlashan” (Saunders’s News-Letter, 10 Mar 1858). Michael Henry Gill acquired McGlashan’s stock, copyrights and premises on 1 Jan 1856, the business then becoming ‘McGlashan & Gill’ under Gill’s direction.
21 D’Olier Street, Dubin — 1846-1850
50 Upper Sackville Street, Dublin — 1850-1856
Information from J. H. Andrews. Bonar Law. Bonar Law (2005). BM. BNA. Humphries & Smith. LHD. Smith (Victorian).