Joshua Ballinger Lippincott
Joshua Ballinger Lippincott | |
|---|---|
 A portrait of Lippincott by Thomas Eakins | |
| Born | March 18, 1813 Juliustown, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Died | January 5, 1886 (aged 72) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Occupation | Publisher |
Joshua Ballinger Lippincott (March 18, 1813 – January 5, 1886) was an American publisher who founded the J. B. Lippincott & Co. publishing house in 1836.
Early life
Lippincott was born in 1813 in Juliustown, New Jersey, the only child of Jacob Lippincott (1782–1834)[1] and Sarah Ballinger (1789–1873).[1][2][3]
By the time Lippincott was fourteen, his family had moved to Philadelphia, where he began selling books.[4]
Career
In 1836, Lippincott established J. B. Lippincott & Co., a publishing house. He purchased Grigg, Elliott & Co. in 1849, and reorganized as Lippincott, Grambo & Co. Grimbo retired in 1855, at which point the company reverted to its original name.[2]
A fire in 1899 destroyed Lippincott headquarters, causing around $3 million in damage, but the company returned to its previous success level by the middle of the 20th century.[4]
Personal life
In 1845, Lippincott married Josephine C. Craige, daughter of Seth Craige, a noted cotton manufacturer in Philadelphia,[3] with whom he had four children:[2] sons Craige, Walter and Joshua Bertram, and daughter Josephine.[1] Craige committed suicide in 1911.[5]
Lippincott's grandson, Joseph Wharton Lippincott, became a president of the company, as did Joseph's son, Joseph Jr.[6]
Former professional NFL quarterback Josh Rosen is named for Lippincott. His full name is Joshua Ballinger Lippincott Rosen.[7]
Death
Sensing the end of his life was approaching, in 1885 Lippincott passed ownership of the business to his sons. It became J. B. Lippincott Co.[8]
Lippincott died in 1886, aged 72. He was interred in Lauren Hill East Cemetery in Philadelphia. His widow survived him by thirteen years and was buried beside him.
References
- 1 2 3 "Joshua Ballinger Lippincott (1813-1886) - American Aristocracy". americanaristocracy.com. Retrieved 2026-08-19.
- 1 2 3 Lippincott, Joshua Ballinger. Marquis Who's Who. 1963. p. 316. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
- 1 2 Tyler, Lyon Gardiner (1915). Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography, Under the Editorial Supervision of Lyon Gardiner Tyler. Lewis historical publishing Company. p. 998.
- 1 2 "HarperCollins at 200". HarperCollins Publishers. Retrieved 2026-08-19.
- ↑ Times, Special to The New York (1911-04-07). "LIPPINCOTT SUICIDE IN PHILADELPHIA; Publisher Found Dead by His Valet with a Bullet Wound in His Head". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-08-19.
- ↑ N.Y. "Philadelphia publisher Lippincott dies". Wilmington Star-News. Retrieved 2026-08-19.
- ↑ Thamel, Pete (August 8, 2016). "UCLA QB Josh Rosen is a bonafide star. Now how well can he handle the ensuing fame?". SI.com. Archived from the original on September 3, 2019. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
- ↑ "19th Century Juvenile Series - J. B. Lippincott & Co./ J. B. Lippincott Co". 19thcenturyjuvenileseries.com. Retrieved 2026-08-19.