Macmillan, DANIEL

Macmillan, DANIEL, was the son of a small farmer, and was born at Upper Corrie, Arran, 13th September 1813. His brother Alexander was born at Irvine, 3d October 1818, survived Daniel for nearly forty years, and died 25th January 1896. After serving a seven years' apprenticeship (1824-31) under a bookseller at Irvine, Daniel went to Glasgow in 1831; was engaged with Johnson, Cambridge (1833-37), and with Seeley, London (1837-43). He was joined by his younger brother Alexander, who had been keeping a school at Nitskill, near Paisley, and a small shop in Aldersgate Street in London was opened under his charge in 1843. Partly through the kindly interest of Archdeacon Hare the business of Mr Newby, Cambridge, was taken over by the brothers in the same year, and Mr Stevenson's business there was acquired for £6000 in 1845, with the assistance of fresh partners. As the brothers showed insight and knowledge of books their business grew rapidly, and by 1856 success was secured. The books that helped the young firm most largely were the works of Kingsley, Maurice, and the educational and university volumes. Daniel died 27th June 1857. He had a high ideal of the bookselling business: 'As truly as God is, we are his ministers and help to minister to the well-being of the souls of men.' Alexander Macmillan (1818-96) was appointed publisher to Oxford University in 1863, and in the same year the business was removed to London. Macmillan's Magazine first appeared in 1859, and now the catalogue of the firm embraces works by the most eminent names of the day in all departments of literature. See the Life by T. Hughes (1882).