Black, Adam (1784-1874)

Scottish publisher. In 1807 he established the still flourishing publishing house of A and C Black (later being joined by his nephew Charles Black). The company publishes Who's Who, which has appeared annually since 1897.

In 1827 Black acquired the copyright of the Encyclopaedia Britannica and the Edinburgh Review; the firm owned the encyclopaedia until 1901, publishing the seventh, eighth, and ninth editions. In 1851 he gained the remaining copyright of Walter Scott's work, and retired in 1870.

Black was born in Edinburgh, the son of a master builder. First apprenticed to bookselling in London, he returned to Edinburgh to set up his own publishing house. In 1822 he became commissioner of police in the city; he was twice Lord Provost of Edinburgh, and its Liberal member of Parliament from 1856 to 1865.