Encyclopædia Edinensis Explained
The Encyclopædia Edinensis was a six-volume general encyclopedia published in Edinburgh in 1827, and intended for a popular audience. It was edited by James Millar, who died just before it was complete.[1]
Editorial staff
- James Millar, principal editor
- Jeremiah Kirby and Richard Poole, main editors and contributors.[2] Poole wrote articles on "Mental Diseases".[3]
- John Sommers, minister at Falkirk, was proprietor and also editor for the last three volumes.[4]
Work began on the Encyclopædia in 1816.[5] Millar edited the fourth and part of the fifth editions of the Encyclopædia Britannica and had contributed extensively to both. His goal with the Edinensis was to create a more popular work. However, his use of a large quarto format, the same size as the Britannica, hampered the project because smaller duodecimal formats were more easily handled.[6]
Phrenology
The editorial line was quite sympathetic to phrenology. According to the Phrenological Journal, Sommers approved the inclusion of the uncritical article "Phrenology".[7] Poole in 1819 wrote for the encyclopedia an article on education, an early treatment from the point of phrenology.[8]
Other contributors
- John Adamson of Newton
- Alexander Anderson, Polar Expeditions etc.
- George Buchanan, Astronomy and Dialling
- James Couper
- John Dick M.D., Midwifery
- Alexander Duncan, Miracle etc.
- James Flint
- William Galbraith, Navigation
- Patrick Gibson, design
- Rev. David Liston, Calcutta, Mechanics
- Henry Liston, Music
- Robert Macmillan
- Lockhart Muirhead
- Rev. Thomas Nelson, Religion
- Alexander Peterkin
- Rev. Dr. Russel of Leith, Magnetism and Meteorology
- John Sommers
- Walter Tod, Theology etc.
- John Wallace
- Robert Wallace.[2]
External links
- Encyclopedia Edinensis; or, Dictionary of arts, sciences, and literature Vol. 1
- Encyclopedia Edinensis; or, Dictionary of arts, sciences, and literature Vol. 2
- Encyclopedia Edinensis; or, Dictionary of arts, sciences, and literature Vol. 4
- Encyclopedia Edinensis; or, Dictionary of arts, sciences, and literature Vol. 5
Notes and References
- Book: David Philip Miller. Discovering Water: James Watt, Henry Cavendish, and the Nineteenth Century 'Water Controversy'. 19 May 2012. 2004. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.. 978-0-7546-3177-4. 72.
- James Millar, Encyclopedia Edinensis; or, Dictionary of arts, sciences, and literature vol. 1 (1827), p. vi; archive.org.
- Book: The Journal of psychological medicine and mental pathology. 19 May 2012. 1851. Churchill. 157.
- Book: Scotland. Society for the Benefit of the Sons and Daughters of the Clergy. The new statistical account of Scotland. 20 May 2012. 1845. W. Blackwood and Sons. 369.
- S. Padraig Walsh Anglo-American general encyclopedias 1703-1967 New York and London; R.R. Bowser Company 1968 p.55
- Book: Collison . Robert . Encyclopedias: Their History throughout the Ages . 1966 . 2 . Haffner Publishing Company . New York & London . 178.
- Book: The phrenological journal and miscellany. 20 May 2012. 1824. s.n.. 641–3.
- Book: The Phrenological journal and miscellany. 20 May 2012. 1826. Printed for the Proprietors. 171.
