Henry, David

, an ingenious printer, was born in the neighbourhood of Aberdeen, in 1710, which place he left at the age of fourteen, and coming to London became Connected with the celebrated projector of the Gentleman’s | Magazine, Edward Cave, whose sister Mary he married in 1736. Soon after his marriage, he began business at Reading, where he established a provincial paper for the use of that town, and of Winchester, where he had likewise a printing-office. In 1754 we find his name used in the Gentleman’s Magazine, as a partner with Cave at St. John’s Gate, where he continued to reside for many years with great reputation: and he possessed the freehold property of the Gate and its appurtenances at the time of his death, which happened at Lewisham, June 5, 1792.

Besides taking an active part in-the management of the Gentleman’s Magazine for more than half a century, his separate literary labours were such as do credit to his judgment and industry. The only printed volume that we recollect, which bears his name, was a compilation, while he lived at Reading, under the patronage of Dr. Bolton, dean of Carlisle, entitled, “Twenty Discourses abridged from archbishop Tillotson, c.” of which a second edition was published in 1763, and a fourth in 1779. Those useful and popular publications which describe the curiosities of Westminster abbey, St. Paul’s, and the Tower, c. were originally compiled by Mr. Henry, and were improved by him through many successive impressions. He wrote also “The Complete English Farmer, or a Practical System of Husbandry,” a science which he cultivated on his farm at Beckingham in Kent; and “An historical Account of all the Voyages round the world, performed by English navigators,” 1774, 4 vols. 8vo, to which he afterwards added two more, including capt. Cook’s voyages all remarkable for being comprehensive, perspicuous, and accurate. To the Gentleman’s Magazine he was a frequent correspondent on a variety of subjects. He was a man of sound understanding, well acquainted with the literary history of his time, and agreeably communicative of what he knew. ¹