Gentleman's Magazine

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Gentleman's Magazine. Issued monthly, the Gentleman's Magazine was the brainchild of Edward Cave and achieved a spectacular success. The first issue, printed at St John's Gate, Clerkenwell, came out in 1731 and included reviews, essays, songs, births, deaths, and marriages. At an early stage Cave discovered that there was a demand for parliamentary debates and he devoted an increasing share of the magazine to them. From 1741 to 1743 they were written up by Samuel Johnson. By the late 1730s Cave was claiming to sell 10,000 copies. His success spawned imitations, especially the London Magazine and the Scots Magazine. In modified form the magazine lasted until 1907 and Cave's premises in Clerkenwell survive.

J. A. Cannon

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