Edward Dilly (1732–1779; fl. 1755–1779)

DILLY (CHARLES) and (EDWARD), booksellers and publishers in London, 22 Poultry, Rose and Crown, 1732–1807. These brothers came of a yeoman family of Southill in Bedfordshire. Edward, the elder of teh two was born there on July 25th, 1732, and his brother on May 22nd, 1739. Edward was apprenticed to a bookseller in London and afterwards set up for himself at No. 22 Poultry, and dealt largely in theological literature. He also published the works of Catharine Macaulay the historian. He was afterwards joined by his brother Charles, whom he took into partnership, and their house became one of the most noted meeting-places of literary men in London. Both Boswell and Johnson frequently dined there. Nichols decribes Edward Dilly as a great talker. He died on May 11th, 1779. He was responsible for the publication of the English Poets, the issue of which was brought about by the publication of Bell's duodecimo edition. Dr. Johnson was asked to contribute the Lives, which he did for the small fee of two hundred guineas, a sum which he fixed himself. The publishers later gave him a further £100. On the death of his brother, Charles succeeded to the business and published, among other things, Boswell's Life of Dr. Johnson. He was Master of the Stationers' Company in 1803, and died on May 4th, 1807, being succeeded by Joseph Mawman. [Nichols, III. 190–3.] Edward Dilly issued a trade card as successor to Mr. John Oswald [A. Heal's Collection.]

DILLY, EDWARD (1732–1779), bookseller, the second of the three brothers, was born at Southill, Bedfordshire, 25 July 1732. He had an extensive business at 22 in the Poultry, London, and carried on a large American export trade, especially in dissenting theology. On the return of his brother Charles [q. v.] from a trip to America he took him into partnership. He was an admirer of the politics (as well as the person, it is said) of Catherine Macaulay, and published her writings. Boswell includes a couple of his letters, one descriptive of the origin of the edition of the poets, in his ‘Life of Johnson,’ and in a communication to Temple (Letters, p. 240) describes his death, which took place 11 May 1779, at his brother John's house at Southill. He was a pleasant companion, but so loquacious and fond of society that ‘he almost literally talked himself to death,’ says Nichols (Literary Anecd. iii. 191).

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