John Blair Scribner

John Blair Scribner (June 4, 1850 - January 21, 1879) was the president of Charles Scribner's Sons from 1871 to 1879.

Biography

He was born on June 4, 1850 to Charles Scribner I and Emma Elizabeth Blair (1827-1869). His grandfather and namesake was John Insley Blair. He attended Princeton College, but did not graduate. Instead he came to work at Charles Scribner Company with his father. At the death of his father in 1871, he took over as president of the company. cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=John Blair Scribner Dead. |url=http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9E02E2DC123EE63BBC4951DFB7668382669FDE |quote=John Blair Scribner, the senior partner of the publishing-house of Charles Scribner's Sons, died at his residence, No. 21 East Forty-eighth-street, at 5 o'clock last evening of pneumonia. Mr. Scribner contracted the disease a short time before the holidays, but recovered from the attack after a few days' illness, and was at his place of business up to Thursday of last week. |work=New York Times |date=January 21, 1879 |accessdate=2008-07-24 ] He married Lucy Ann Skidmore (1853-1931), who created Skidmore College. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Mrs. Scribner Dies. Skidmore Founder. Widow of John Blair Scribner Succumbs After Long Illness at Age of 77. Known as Philanthropist. Gifts to Girls' College She Started and Whose Trustees She Headed Put at $1,000,000. |url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB071FFF3C5F10738DDDAD0894DD405B818FF1D3 |quote=Mrs. Lucy Skidmore Scribner, widow of John Blair Scribner, died yesterday afternoon at her home at 791 North Broadway after having been in poor health for several months. Her age was 77. |work=New York Times |date=May 4, 1931 |accessdate=2008-07-25 ] [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Died |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,741673-2,00.html |quote=Mrs. Lucy Skidmore Scribner, 77, founder and board chairman of Skidmore College at Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (Skidmore School of Arts founded in 1911, changed to Skidmore College in 1922), relict of John Blair Scribner who was the eldest son of Charles Scribner (books); in Saratoga Springs. |work=Time (magazine) |date=May 11, 1931 |accessdate=2008-07-25 ] He died of pneumonia on January 21, 1879 at the age of 27. Just before he expired, he told his brother, Charles Scribner II: "Cheer up old fellow. You always look on the dark side. I shall soon be all right again." His funeral was held at the Church of the Covenant on January 23, 1879. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=The Late John Blair Scribner |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9F0DE6DB123EE63BBC4C51DFB7668382669FDE |quote=The funeral services over the remains of the late John Blair Scribner were numerously attended yesterday afternoon at the Church of the Covenant, Park-avenue and Thirty-fifth-street. |work=New York Times |date=January 24, 1879 |accessdate=2008-07-25 ]

References