George Strahan (d. 1752; fl. 1699–1752)

STRAHAN, or STRACHAN (GEORGE), bookseller in London, Golden Ball, Cornhill, over against the Royal Exchange, 1699–1740 (?). Began publishing in 1699 [T.C. III. 128], and became one of the leading publishers in London. Nichols [Lit. Anecd.] notes several of the important books which Strahan published. In or about 1740 he was one of six booksellers contracting with the Society for the Encouragement of Learning. [Nichols, Lit. Anecd. il. 96.]

STRAHAN, GEORGE. He had just set up at the Golden Ball, Cornhill, over against the Royal Exchange, when the century opened.  Plomer suggests that he died or retired in 1740, but on Oct. 29, 1750, a George Strahan and an Alexander Strahan both advertise from the Golden Ball (see the General Advertiser for that date). Alexander later became the King's Printer (Nichols i, 74). Details of books published by George are to be found in Nichols i, 107, 212, 240, 329, 425, 477; ii, 55, 87, 96; iii, 615.

—Frederick T. Wood, 17 October 1931

STRAHAN, GEORGE. According to Hilton Price's' 'Signs of Cornhill,' George Strahan was occupying the Golden Ball at the corner of Three Tuns Passage, over against the Royal Exchange in Cornhill in 1696. Plomer's first mention of him, based on the 'Term Catalogues,' is 1699. He was still there in 1747 but I think he died, or retired, in that same year. The stock of George Strahan was sold by auction 5 Feb., 1753. At the time of the fire in Cornhill (1748) Alexander Strahan was in sole control. The shop opposite the Exchange was burnt out (see plan published London Magazine March, 1748 and reproduced 'N. and Q.' 12 S. ii. 462) and Alexander moved about twelve doors further west. I have a bill-head dated 1749 of Alexander Strahan, stationer, "at the Golden Ball near St. Michael's Church in Cornhill." The probabilities are that the George Strahan, mentioned by Dr. Wood as trading with Alexander Strahan in 1750, was either the son or the nephew of Alexander Strahan. There was a William Strahan (b. 1715) who became King's Printer in 1770 (Timperley p. 755).

—Ambrose Heal, 5 December 1931

Strahan, George. There is now in the Press, and will shortly be publish'd, A Discourse by way of Dialogue, concerning Providence, the Pleasure of a Virtuous Life, the Divinity of our Blessed Saviour, the Doctrine of the Trinity, Incarnation, &c with some Occasional Thoughts concerning Elections, the Original of Government, Appeals to the People, Passive Obedience, the Act of Toleration, &c. The 2d Edition. Written by Sir Humphrey Mackworth, and formerly publish'd under the Title of The Principles of a Member of the Black List. Whereof some few Books are still remaining in the Hands of Mr. George Strahan at the Golden Ball near the Royal Exchange, Cornhill. (Daily Courant 27 Dec 1703)

—Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International