David Douglas FRSE FSA (1823 – 1916) was a Scottish publisher in the 19th century. He was publisher of works by authors including John Stuart Blackie and Dr John Brown. In later life he formed half of the successful Edinburgh publishing business Edmonston & Douglas. The latter were responsible for a highly popular set of animal prints aimed at children.[1] His final partnership was called Douglas & Foulis.
Douglas was born in Stranraer in south-west Scotland the son of William Douglas and Sophia Black, and attended school in Whithorn.
Douglas went to Edinburgh, probably around 1837, as a printer's apprentice. He soon after joined the staff of William Blackwood & Sons. Gaining confidence and skill he set up his own printworks. In 1847 he formed a partnership to create Edmonston and Douglas, based at 87 Princes Street,[2] which lasted 30 years. On the death of his partner Alexander Edmonston in 1877 he formed a new company with Thomas Foulis, named Douglas & Foulis, which lasted until his death. Douglas & Foulis appear to have operated a popular circulating library in the early 20th century, which, for a cost of one guinea per year, a member could borrow one book per month, and for ten guineas per year 30 books per month could be borrowed.[3]
Douglas was for many years Editor of the Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. In 1866 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh his proposer being Alexander Campbell Fraser.[4] From 1891 to 1909 he conducted a prolonged correspondence with William Winter in New York City.[5]
In later life his business was at 10 Castle Street and his house at 22 Drummond Place, both in Edinburgh.[6] In these final years he moved from his earlier more intellectual and historical focus to the republishing of American novels in Britain as cheap editions.[7]
Douglas died of pneumonia in Edinburgh on 4 April 1916.
Following his death most ongoing work was absorbed by Thomas Noble Foulis (Foulis’ son) who had set up his own business T. N. Foulis in 1903.[8] The firm later evolved into Hunter & Foulis.
He was married to Sarah Burns Millidge.[9]
His daughter, Sarah Wyse Douglas (d.1886), married the oceanographer, Sir William Abbott Herdman.