Thomas Hookham

Thomas Hookham (c.1739–1819)^[1] was a bookseller and publisher in London in the 18th-19th centuries. He issued works by Charlotte de Bournon, John Hassell, Pierre-Jean-Baptiste Nougaret, Ann Radcliffe,^[1] Clara Reeve, and others. As part of his business he ran a circulating library,^[2][3] established in 1764 and by the 1800s one of "the two largest in London."^{[4][nb 1]} The library continued on Bond Street until it was acquired by Mudie's ca.1871.^[7][8] In addition, about 1794 he opened the Literary Assembly subscription reading rooms stocked with periodicals and reference books.^[1]

His sons, Thomas Hookham, Jr. (1787–1867) and Edward T. Hookham also worked as publishers and booksellers in London.^[9] A third generation, Thomas Hookham and Henry Hookham, continued in the business into the mid 19th century.^[10]

Notes

1. Competitors included circulating libraries of John Bell,^[2] John Boosey,^[2] John Booth,^[5] Carpenter,^[5] Cawthorn,^[5] Cheesewright,^[5] Creighton,^[5] Thomas Dangerfield,^[5] Dutton,^[5] William Earle,^[5] William Lane,^[5] John Noble, David Ogilvy,^[5] Parson,^[5] Tegg,^[5] and Thomas Vernor.^[2][6]