John Millan (1701–1782)[1] was a printer and bookseller at Charing Cross, London.[2] After his death, his business was taken over by Thomas Egerton and his brother John Egerton.[2]

From: The Booksellers, Henry Dell, 1766.[3]

MILLAN deserving of the warmest praise,
As full of worth and virtue as of days;
Brave, open, gen'rous, 'tis in him we find,
A solid judgment, and a taste refined.
Nature's most choice productions are his care,
And them t'obtain no cost or pains does spare,
A character so amiable and bright,
Inspires the Muse with rapture and delight:

The Gentleman and Tradesman both in him unite.

On 5 March 1772, antiquarian Richard Gough visited Millan's shop. He wrote, "On my return from Westminster last night, I penetrated the utmost recesses of Millan's shop". He found Millan "at the head of a Whist party".[4]

A newspaper death notice of 23 March 1782 reads, "Yesterday died, at his house at Charing-cross, aged 81, Mr Millan, military bookseller, supposed to have been the strongest man in the kingdom."[5]

Publications

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Title page of 'Arms of the English Nobility', John Millan, 1749.
  • Millan's Lists of the Parliament. Containing The Lords with their Posts, ... Counties, Cities, etc., their members, etc, 1748
  • Arms of the English Nobility: With Supporters, Crests, Motto's: and Tables of Dates to Family Honours, Viz. Origin, Knights, Baronets, Garters, Peerage &c., 1749
  • Millan's Universal Register: Correct and Complete for 1750.

Family

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John Millan and his wife, Mary, had a daughter, Charity, born 16 January 1728, St. James, Westminster.[6] Charity Millan married Edward Egerton on 29 July 1762 in St Martins in the Fields, Middlesex.[7]

Edward and Charity Egerton had a daughter, Mary, born on 19 April 1764 and baptised 26 April 1764 at St Martins in the Fields.[8] She was an author who published several books.[9] She was the second wife of Thomas Scott,[9] and, after his death, the first wife of astronomer William Rutter Dawes.[9] She is mentioned on Dawes' grave as Mrs Thomas Scott. She died in 1840.[9]

Their son, Millan Egerton, was born 8 October 1765, baptised at St John the Evangelist, Smith Square, Westminster, 3 November 1765.[8] Millan Egerton became a First Lieutenant in the Royal Regiment of Artillery in May 1790.[10] He died on 3 October 1790.[11]

References

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  1. ^ Kentish Gazette 20 March 1782, p3
  2. ^ a b Willis, George, Willis's Current Notes: A Series of Articles on Antiquities, Biography, Heraldry, History, Language, Literature, Natural History, Topography, &c., 1856, p 47
  3. ^ Dell, Henry, The Booksellers: A Poem, 1766, p 5
  4. ^ Nichols, John, Literary Anecdotes of the Eighteenth Century, Volume 8, 1814. p 462
  5. ^ Norfolk Chronicle, 23 March 1782, p4. Findmypast, (subscription required.)
  6. ^ England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 - AncestryLibraryEdition.co.uk
  7. ^ Westminster, London, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1935, ancestry.co.uk. (Subscription required)
  8. ^ a b Westminster Baptisms, findmypast (Subscription required)
  9. ^ a b c d MARY EGERTON SCOTT (c. 1765-1840)
  10. ^ Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 20 May 1790
  11. ^ Kane, John, List of officers of the Royal regiment of artillery, 1815, p 18.
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