James Knapton (d. 1736)

KNAPTON (JAMES), bookseller in London, (i) Queen's Head, St. Paul's Churchyard; (2) Crown, St. Paul's Churchyard. 1687–1738. This noted bookseller began, like many others, as a publisher of theological books, his first entry in the Term Catalogues being in Mich. 1687. Dunton [p. 295] spoke of him as "a very accomplished person ... and shews by his purchasing Dampier's Voyages he knows how to value a good copy". In 1688 he began to publish plays and novels in large numbers. It was in 1696 that he first advertised Dampier's Voyages. [T.C. 11. 609.] He held shares in all the most important books that were issued and carried on a flourishing business until his death in 1738. He was Master of the Company of Stationers in 1727 and again in 1728, and was succeeded in business by two of his brothers, John and Paul. [Nichols, Lit. Anecd. I. 236, in. 607.]

KNAPTON, JAMES. He was trading at the Crown in St. Paul's Churchyard at the opening of the century, where he remained until his death on Nov. 24, 1736. He was twice master of the Stationers' Company, in 1727 and 1728, and was the publisher of Dampier's Voyages, as well as a liberal patron to writers. Amongst other publications, Kellom Tomlinson's 'Art of Dancing' (1724) bears his name in its list of subscribers.

—Frederick T. Wood, 12 September 1931

KNAPTON, JAMES. He is found at the Queen's Head in St. Paul's Churchyard in 1687, but he moved to the Crown in the Churchyard in 1690. Plomer gives the date of his death as 1738, but this is probably an error. Timperley states that he died in 1736 and DR. WOOD concurs. His name appears on imprints in 1729 and 1731 in conjunction with his brother John, and in 1734 we find that the youngest brother has joined the partnership, and the names of James, John and Paul occur.

—Ambrose Heal, 7 November 1931