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James Tytler (17 December 1745^[1] – 11 January 1804) was a Scottish apothecary and the editor of the second edition of Encyclopædia Britannica. Tytler became the first person in Britain to fly by ascending in a hot air balloon (1784).

A group of historiographers wrote about him:

A social outcast, Tytler did much hack work for low pay and rarely if ever emerged from poverty. But ... he deserves to be remembered as a man of many talents – as a political and religious controversialist, scholar, journalist, poet, song writer, musician, balloonist, pharmacist, surgeon and printer. In addition ... he was an outstanding encyclopedist whose editorship of the second edition earns him a notable place in the history of encyclopedias.
— Hardesty Doig, Kafker, Loveland, Trinkle, 2009^[2]

Life

Tytler was born in Fern, Forfarshire, Scotland, the son of a Presbyterian minister. His father taught him Greek, Latin and theology. He probably studied for the ministry but was not interested in (Orthodox) Calvinism. He became a preacher in the Church of Scotland and studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh,^[3] after which he was apprenticed to a ship's surgeon for one year.^[4] He may not have been awarded a degree,^[5] although the 11th edition of Britannica refers to him as James Tytler, M.A.^[6] He declined to practise medicine but instead opened a pharmacy in Leith, near Edinburgh, which was a financial failure, leaving him in debt.^[7] The two longest articles in the second edition of Britannica are Surgery and Pharmacy,^[8] reflecting his fields of expertise.

In 1765, Tytler married Elizabeth Rattray, the orphaned daughter of a solicitor. Soon after, he fled Scotland to escape his creditors. His financial problems may have come from his alcoholism. He went to northern England, where he again tried to make a living as an apothecary. After fathering several children there, he returned to Edinburgh in 1772 or 1773. In 1774 or 1775 Tytler separated from his wife; at the time the couple had five children.^[9]

Under the pseudonym "Ranger" Tytler published Ranger's Impartial List of the Ladies of Pleasure in Edinburgh a private book detailing 66 sex workers in the city.^[10]^[11]

The years when Tytler worked as editor of the Encyclopædia Britannica (1777–1784 for the second edition, and 1788–1793 for the third) were his most lucrative. He also earned income from editing other works and translations. In March 1785 he became bankrupt again, possibly due to the costs of his engaging in hot air ballooning. He moved between several locations in Scotland and northern England. Elizabeth Rattray sued him for divorce in 1788, because he had lived with Jean Aitkenhead since about 1779 and had twin daughters with her.^[12]

He returned to Edinburgh in 1791. In 1793 he was charged with sedition for publishing a pamphlet championing the Rights of Man, but fled Scotland prior to his trial, travelling first to Belfast, and then in 1795 to the United States. He was outlawed in absentia.^[13] In Salem, Massachusetts, he edited the Salem Register, published some works and sold medicine. On 9 January 1804, Tytler left his house drunk; two days later the sea returned his body.^[14]

James and Elizabeth Rattray were members of the Glasites, a radical Protestant sect. In the 1770s, Tytler left the sect and denounced it together with all churches. He remained a fervent Christian without denomination. In Salem he never went to church.^[15]

Encyclopædia Britannica

Tytler had previously written more than edited; for example, in 1774 he was the author of two religious pamphlets that earned him little or no money. He came late to the Encyclopædia Britannica, as editor of the second edition (1777–1784). He was paid less than his predecessor, William Smellie, and it is possible he was engaged because one of the Britannica's publishers, Andrew Bell, had been assisted by Tytler on another work. As a group of historiographers wrote, 'Tytler displayed an uncharacteristic steadiness of purpose while working on the second edition.'^[16] Reviews of the second edition were lukewarm, but the sales showed an appreciation by the reading public.^[17]

Tytler contributed some long treatises to the third edition (1788–1797), and may have been its first editor before he left Edinburgh in March 1788, the month before the first number was published.^[18] This left the editor's chair to Britannica's co-owner and Bell's partner, Colin Macfarquhar. Tytler continued to contribute heavily to the third edition when he came back to Edinburgh, up to the letter M, which was produced in 1792 or 1793.^[19]

Politics

The second edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica is politically moderate because Bell and Macfarquhar curbed Tytler's reformism.^[20] Tytler expressed sympathy for the French Revolution of 1789 and called on the British not to pay taxes. He also denounced public officials. One of his pamphlets, published in 1792, described the House of Commons as a 'vile junto of aristocrats' usurping the rights of king and people. Not money, but honest and upright behaviour should qualify a man for being an elector. As a consequence Tytler was outlawed for sedition^[21] in January 1793.^[22]

On the ship to America in 1795 Tytler wrote a pamphlet Rising the sun in the west, or the Origin and progress of liberty, in which he denounced the elites of the Old World. Disappointed with the Scottish and Irish, he praised the Americans and the French for fighting against superstition and tyranny (despite the suppression of religion in revolutionary France).^[23]

Aviation

The inventive Tytler rivalled the French pioneers of hot air ballooning and was the first person in Britain to ascend in a balloon, almost a month before his rival to the title, Vincenzo Lunardi, made a hydrogen balloon ascent in London. Tytler's venture was expensive, but succeeded after several attempts on 25 August 1784, in Edinburgh. His balloon rose a few feet from the ground. Two days later he managed to reach a height of not more than 300 feet, travelling for half a mile between Green House on the northern edge of what is now Holyrood Park to the nearby village of Restalrig.^[24] Later trials were less fortunate. In October his balloon only took off after Tytler left the basket, to the disappointment of the crowd. Having previously been 'the toast of Edinburgh', he was ridiculed and called a coward. His last flight was on 26 July 1785.^[25]

Tytler was overshadowed by Lunardi—the self-styled "Daredevil Aeronaut"—who carried out five sensational flights in Scotland, creating a ballooning fad and inspiring ladies' fashions in skirts and hats. The "Lunardi bonnet" is mentioned in the poem To a Louse by Robert Burns.

External links

Article by Robert Murray Archived 16 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine
[1]
BBC News article
"Tytler's Up !", a tune in Tytler's honour Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine

References

^ Hew Scott, Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae, vol. 5, (1925, p. 397); biography, Balloon Tytler by Sir James Fergusson of Kilkerran (1972, p. 18). Kathleen Hardesty Doig, Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland and Dennis A. Trinkle: James Tytler's edition (1777–1784): a vast expansion and improvement. In: Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland (ed.): The Early Britannica (1768–1803): the growth of an outstanding encyclopedia. Voltaire Foundation, Oxford 2009, pp. 69–155, here 71. The book "The Great EB, the story of Encyclopædia Britannica," by Herman Kogan, states that he was 29 when he began work for Britannica, which puts his year of birth at or around 1748
^ Kathleen Hardesty Doig, Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland and Dennis A. Trinkle: James Tytler's edition (1777–1784): a vast expansion and improvement. In: Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland (ed.): The Early Britannica (1768–1803): the growth of an outstanding encyclopedia. Voltaire Foundation, Oxford 2009, pp. 69–155, here p. 155.
^ The Great EB, the story of Encyclopædia Britannica, Herman Kogan,
^ The Great EB, the story of Encyclopædia Britannica, Herman Kogan, p. 16.
^ Kathleen Hardesty Doig, Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland and Dennis A. Trinkle: James Tytler's edition (1777–1784): a vast expansion and improvement. In: Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland (ed.): The Early Britannica (1768–1803): the growth of an outstanding encyclopedia. Voltaire Foundation, Oxford 2009, pp. 69–155, here 71/73.
^ 11th edition, 1911, vol 9, p. 378.
^ The Great EB, the story of Encyclopædia Britannica, Herman Kogan
^ The second edition of Britannica.
^ Kathleen Hardesty Doig, Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland and Dennis A. Trinkle: James Tytler's edition (1777–1784): a vast expansion and improvement. In: Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland (ed.): The Early Britannica (1768–1803): the growth of an outstanding encyclopedia. Voltaire Foundation, Oxford 2009, pp. 69–155, here 73/74.
^ Rangers (1775). Ranger's Impartial List of the Ladies of Pleasure in Edinburgh.
^ "The secret guide to 18th century Edinburgh's working girls". Edinburgh Evening News. 6 February 2017.
^ Kathleen Hardesty Doig, Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland and Dennis A. Trinkle: James Tytler's edition (1777–1784): a vast expansion and improvement. In: Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland (ed.): The Early Britannica (1768–1803): the growth of an outstanding encyclopedia. Voltaire Foundation, Oxford 2009, pp. 151–152.
^ Melvin, Eric (2017), The Edinburgh of John Kay: Portraits and Tales of Every Day Life in Edinburgh's Golden Age, Eric Melvin, Edinburgh, p. 186, ISBN 9780995637801
^ Kathleen Hardesty Doig, Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland and Dennis A. Trinkle: James Tytler's edition (1777–1784): a vast expansion and improvement. In: Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland (ed.): The Early Britannica (1768–1803): the growth of an outstanding encyclopedia. Voltaire Foundation, Oxford 2009, pp. 69–155, here p. 154/155.
^ Kathleen Hardesty Doig, Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland and Dennis A. Trinkle: James Tytler's edition (1777–1784): a vast expansion and improvement. In: Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland (ed.): The Early Britannica (1768–1803): the growth of an outstanding encyclopedia. Voltaire Foundation, Oxford 2009, pp. 69–155, here 73/74, 155.
^ Kathleen Hardesty Doig, Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland and Dennis A. Trinkle: James Tytler's edition (1777–1784): a vast expansion and improvement. In: Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland (ed.): The Early Britannica (1768–1803): the growth of an outstanding encyclopedia. Voltaire Foundation, Oxford 2009, pp. 69–155, here 71, 74/75.
^ Kathleen Hardesty Doig, Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland and Dennis A. Trinkle: James Tytler's edition (1777–1784): a vast expansion and improvement. In: Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland (ed.): The Early Britannica (1768–1803): the growth of an outstanding encyclopedia. Voltaire Foundation, Oxford 2009, pp. 69–155, here p. 146.
^ Kathleen Hardesty Doig, Frank A. Kafker, William E. Morris: Colin Macfarquhar, George Gleig and possibly James Tytler's edition (1788–1797): the attainment of recognition and eminence. In: Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland (ed.): The Early Britannica (1768–1803): the growth of an outstanding encyclopedia. Voltaire Foundation, Oxford 2009, pp. 157–251, here p. 158.
^ George Gleig in the foreword to the 1797 printing of the Encyclopædia Britannica Third Edition, 1797, Vol.1, p. preface, Gleig lists authors of the 3rd edition
^ Kathleen Hardesty Doig, Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland and Dennis A. Trinkle: James Tytler's edition (1777–1784): a vast expansion and improvement. In: Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland (ed.): The Early Britannica (1768–1803): the growth of an outstanding encyclopedia. Voltaire Foundation, Oxford 2009, pp. 69–155, here p. 139.
^ "James Tytler | Scottish editor".
^ Kathleen Hardesty Doig, Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland and Dennis A. Trinkle: James Tytler's edition (1777–1784): a vast expansion and improvement. In: Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland (ed.): The Early Britannica (1768–1803): the growth of an outstanding encyclopedia. Voltaire Foundation, Oxford 2009, pp. 69–155, here p. 153.
^ Kathleen Hardesty Doig, Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland and Dennis A. Trinkle: James Tytler's edition (1777–1784): a vast expansion and improvement. In: Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland (ed.): The Early Britannica (1768–1803): the growth of an outstanding encyclopedia. Voltaire Foundation, Oxford 2009, pp. 69–155, here p. 154.
^ Grant's Old and New Edinburgh vol.5 p.135
^ Kathleen Hardesty Doig, Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland and Dennis A. Trinkle: James Tytler's edition (1777–1784): a vast expansion and improvement. In: Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland (ed.): The Early Britannica (1768–1803): the growth of an outstanding encyclopedia. Voltaire Foundation, Oxford 2009, pp. 69–155, here p. 151.

[1] Hew Scott, Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae, vol. 5, (1925, p. 397); biography, Balloon Tytler by Sir James Fergusson of Kilkerran (1972, p. 18). Kathleen Hardesty Doig, Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland and Dennis A. Trinkle: James Tytler's edition (1777–1784): a vast expansion and improvement. In: Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland (ed.): The Early Britannica (1768–1803): the growth of an outstanding encyclopedia. Voltaire Foundation, Oxford 2009, pp. 69–155, here 71. The book "The Great EB, the story of Encyclopædia Britannica," by Herman Kogan, states that he was 29 when he began work for Britannica, which puts his year of birth at or around 1748

[2] Kathleen Hardesty Doig, Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland and Dennis A. Trinkle: James Tytler's edition (1777–1784): a vast expansion and improvement. In: Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland (ed.): The Early Britannica (1768–1803): the growth of an outstanding encyclopedia. Voltaire Foundation, Oxford 2009, pp. 69–155, here p. 155.

[3] The Great EB, the story of Encyclopædia Britannica, Herman Kogan,

[4] The Great EB, the story of Encyclopædia Britannica, Herman Kogan, p. 16.

[5] Kathleen Hardesty Doig, Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland and Dennis A. Trinkle: James Tytler's edition (1777–1784): a vast expansion and improvement. In: Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland (ed.): The Early Britannica (1768–1803): the growth of an outstanding encyclopedia. Voltaire Foundation, Oxford 2009, pp. 69–155, here 71/73.

[6] 11th edition, 1911, vol 9, p. 378.

[7] The Great EB, the story of Encyclopædia Britannica, Herman Kogan

[8] The second edition of Britannica.

[9] Kathleen Hardesty Doig, Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland and Dennis A. Trinkle: James Tytler's edition (1777–1784): a vast expansion and improvement. In: Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland (ed.): The Early Britannica (1768–1803): the growth of an outstanding encyclopedia. Voltaire Foundation, Oxford 2009, pp. 69–155, here 73/74.

[10] Rangers (1775). Ranger's Impartial List of the Ladies of Pleasure in Edinburgh.

[11] "The secret guide to 18th century Edinburgh's working girls". Edinburgh Evening News. 6 February 2017.

[12] Kathleen Hardesty Doig, Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland and Dennis A. Trinkle: James Tytler's edition (1777–1784): a vast expansion and improvement. In: Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland (ed.): The Early Britannica (1768–1803): the growth of an outstanding encyclopedia. Voltaire Foundation, Oxford 2009, pp. 151–152.

[13] Melvin, Eric (2017), The Edinburgh of John Kay: Portraits and Tales of Every Day Life in Edinburgh's Golden Age, Eric Melvin, Edinburgh, p. 186, ISBN 9780995637801

[14] Kathleen Hardesty Doig, Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland and Dennis A. Trinkle: James Tytler's edition (1777–1784): a vast expansion and improvement. In: Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland (ed.): The Early Britannica (1768–1803): the growth of an outstanding encyclopedia. Voltaire Foundation, Oxford 2009, pp. 69–155, here p. 154/155.

[15] Kathleen Hardesty Doig, Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland and Dennis A. Trinkle: James Tytler's edition (1777–1784): a vast expansion and improvement. In: Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland (ed.): The Early Britannica (1768–1803): the growth of an outstanding encyclopedia. Voltaire Foundation, Oxford 2009, pp. 69–155, here 73/74, 155.

[16] Kathleen Hardesty Doig, Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland and Dennis A. Trinkle: James Tytler's edition (1777–1784): a vast expansion and improvement. In: Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland (ed.): The Early Britannica (1768–1803): the growth of an outstanding encyclopedia. Voltaire Foundation, Oxford 2009, pp. 69–155, here 71, 74/75.

[17] Kathleen Hardesty Doig, Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland and Dennis A. Trinkle: James Tytler's edition (1777–1784): a vast expansion and improvement. In: Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland (ed.): The Early Britannica (1768–1803): the growth of an outstanding encyclopedia. Voltaire Foundation, Oxford 2009, pp. 69–155, here p. 146.

[18] Kathleen Hardesty Doig, Frank A. Kafker, William E. Morris: Colin Macfarquhar, George Gleig and possibly James Tytler's edition (1788–1797): the attainment of recognition and eminence. In: Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland (ed.): The Early Britannica (1768–1803): the growth of an outstanding encyclopedia. Voltaire Foundation, Oxford 2009, pp. 157–251, here p. 158.

[19] George Gleig in the foreword to the 1797 printing of the Encyclopædia Britannica Third Edition, 1797, Vol.1, p. preface, Gleig lists authors of the 3rd edition

[20] Kathleen Hardesty Doig, Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland and Dennis A. Trinkle: James Tytler's edition (1777–1784): a vast expansion and improvement. In: Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland (ed.): The Early Britannica (1768–1803): the growth of an outstanding encyclopedia. Voltaire Foundation, Oxford 2009, pp. 69–155, here p. 139.

[21] "James Tytler | Scottish editor".

[22] Kathleen Hardesty Doig, Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland and Dennis A. Trinkle: James Tytler's edition (1777–1784): a vast expansion and improvement. In: Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland (ed.): The Early Britannica (1768–1803): the growth of an outstanding encyclopedia. Voltaire Foundation, Oxford 2009, pp. 69–155, here p. 153.

[23] Kathleen Hardesty Doig, Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland and Dennis A. Trinkle: James Tytler's edition (1777–1784): a vast expansion and improvement. In: Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland (ed.): The Early Britannica (1768–1803): the growth of an outstanding encyclopedia. Voltaire Foundation, Oxford 2009, pp. 69–155, here p. 154.

[24] Grant's Old and New Edinburgh vol.5 p.135

[25] Kathleen Hardesty Doig, Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland and Dennis A. Trinkle: James Tytler's edition (1777–1784): a vast expansion and improvement. In: Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland (ed.): The Early Britannica (1768–1803): the growth of an outstanding encyclopedia. Voltaire Foundation, Oxford 2009, pp. 69–155, here p. 151.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{about||the Scottish lawyer|James Fraser Tytler}}
+{{Short description|Scottish apothecary and editor}}
+{{for|the Scottish lawyer|James Fraser Tytler}}
-{{Cleanup bare URLs|date=May 2021}}
 {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
 [[File:James Tytler.jpg|thumb|upright|James Tytler]]
-'''James Tytler''' (17 December 1745<ref>Hew Scott, ''Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae'', vol. 5, (1925, p. 397); biography, ''Balloon Tytler'' by Sir James Fergusson of Kilkerran (1972, p. 18). Kathleen Hardesty Doig, Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland and Dennis A. Trinkle: James Tytler's edition (1777–1784): a vast expansion and improvement. In: Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland (ed.): ''The Early Britannica (1768–1803): the growth of an outstanding encyclopedia''. Voltaire Foundation, Oxford 2009, pp. 69–155, here 71. The book "The Great EB, the story of Encyclopædia Britannica," by Herman Kogan, states that he was 29 when he began work for Britannica, which puts his year of birth at or around 1748</ref> – 11 January 1804) was a Scottish apothecary and the editor of the second edition of ''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]''. Tytler became the first person in Britain to fly by ascending in a [[hot air balloon]] (1784).
+'''James Tytler''' (17 December 1745<ref>Hew Scott, ''Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae'', vol. 5, (1925, p. 397); biography, ''Balloon Tytler'' by Sir James Fergusson of Kilkerran (1972, p. 18). Kathleen Hardesty Doig, Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland and Dennis A. Trinkle: James Tytler's edition (1777–1784): a vast expansion and improvement. In: Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland (ed.): ''The Early Britannica (1768–1803): the growth of an outstanding encyclopedia''. Voltaire Foundation, Oxford 2009, pp. 69–155, here 71. The book "The Great EB, the story of Encyclopædia Britannica," by Herman Kogan, states that he was 29 when he began work for Britannica, which puts his year of birth at or around 1748</ref> – 11 January 1804) was a Scottish apothecary and the [[Editor-in-chief of the Encyclopædia Britannica|editor]] of the second edition of ''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]''. Tytler became the first person in Britain to fly by ascending in a [[hot air balloon]] (1784).
 A group of historiographers wrote about him:
@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 == Life ==
-Tytler was born in [[Angus, Scotland|Fern]], [[Forfarshire]], Scotland, the son of a Presbyterian minister. His father taught him Greek, Latin and theology. He probably studied for the ministry but was not interested in (Orthodox) Calvinism. He became a preacher in the [[Church of Scotland]] and studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh,<ref>The Great EB, the story of Encyclopædia Britannica, Herman Kogan,</ref> after which he was apprenticed to a ship's surgeon for one year.<ref>The Great EB, the story of Encyclopædia Britannica, Herman Kogan, p. 16.</ref> He may not have been awarded a degree,<ref>Kathleen Hardesty Doig, Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland and Dennis A. Trinkle: James Tytler's edition (1777–1784): a vast expansion and improvement. In: Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland (ed.): ''The Early Britannica (1768–1803): the growth of an outstanding encyclopedia''. Voltaire Foundation, Oxford 2009, pp. 69–155, here 71/73.</ref> although the 11th edition of Britannica refers to him as James Tytler, M.A.<ref>11th edition, 1911, vol 9, p. 378.</ref> He declined to practice medicine but instead opened a pharmacy in Leith, near Edinburgh, which was a financial failure, leaving him in debt.<ref>The Great EB, the story of Encyclopædia Britannica, Herman Kogan</ref> The two longest articles in the second edition of ''Britannica'' are Surgery and Pharmacy,<ref>The second edition of Britannica.</ref> reflecting his fields of expertise.
+Tytler was born in [[Angus, Scotland|Fern]], [[Forfarshire]], Scotland, the son of a Presbyterian minister. His father taught him Greek, Latin and theology. He probably studied for the ministry but was not interested in (Orthodox) Calvinism. He became a preacher in the [[Church of Scotland]] and studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh,<ref>The Great EB, the story of Encyclopædia Britannica, Herman Kogan,</ref> after which he was apprenticed to a ship's surgeon for one year.<ref>The Great EB, the story of Encyclopædia Britannica, Herman Kogan, p. 16.</ref> He may not have been awarded a degree,<ref>Kathleen Hardesty Doig, Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland and Dennis A. Trinkle: James Tytler's edition (1777–1784): a vast expansion and improvement. In: Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland (ed.): ''The Early Britannica (1768–1803): the growth of an outstanding encyclopedia''. Voltaire Foundation, Oxford 2009, pp. 69–155, here 71/73.</ref> although the 11th edition of Britannica refers to him as James Tytler, M.A.<ref>11th edition, 1911, vol 9, p. 378.</ref> He declined to practise medicine but instead opened a pharmacy in Leith, near Edinburgh, which was a financial failure, leaving him in debt.<ref>The Great EB, the story of Encyclopædia Britannica, Herman Kogan</ref> The two longest articles in the second edition of ''Britannica'' are Surgery and Pharmacy,<ref>The second edition of Britannica.</ref> reflecting his fields of expertise.
 In 1765, Tytler married Elizabeth Rattray, the orphaned daughter of a solicitor. Soon after, he fled Scotland to escape his creditors. His financial problems may have come from his alcoholism. He went to northern England, where he again tried to make a living as an apothecary. After fathering several children there, he returned to Edinburgh in 1772 or 1773. In 1774 or 1775 Tytler separated from his wife; at the time the couple had five children.<ref>Kathleen Hardesty Doig, Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland and Dennis A. Trinkle: James Tytler's edition (1777–1784): a vast expansion and improvement. In: Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland (ed.): ''The Early Britannica (1768–1803): the growth of an outstanding encyclopedia''. Voltaire Foundation, Oxford 2009, pp. 69–155, here 73/74.</ref>
-Under the pseudonym "Ranger" Tytler published ''Ranger's Impartial List of the Ladies of Pleasure in Edinburgh'' a private book detailing 66 working ladies in the city.<ref>{{cite book |last=Rangers |title=Ranger's Impartial List of the Ladies of Pleasure in Edinburgh |date=1775}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/our-region/edinburgh/the-secret-guide-to-18th-century-edinburgh-s-working-girls-1-4359510 |title=The secret guide to 18th century Edinburgh's working girls |publisher=Edinburgh Evening News |date=6 February 2017}}</ref>
+Under the pseudonym "Ranger" Tytler published ''Ranger's Impartial List of the Ladies of Pleasure in Edinburgh'' a private book detailing 66 sex workers in the city.<ref>{{cite book |last=Rangers |title=Ranger's Impartial List of the Ladies of Pleasure in Edinburgh |date=1775}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/our-region/edinburgh/the-secret-guide-to-18th-century-edinburgh-s-working-girls-1-4359510 |title=The secret guide to 18th century Edinburgh's working girls |publisher=Edinburgh Evening News |date=6 February 2017}}</ref>
-The years when Tytler worked as editor of the Encyclopædia Britannica (1777–1784 for the second edition, and 1788–1793 for the third) were his most lucrative. He also earned income from editing other works and translations. In March 1785, however, he became bankrupt again, possibly due to the costs of his engaging in hot air ballooning. He moved between several locations in Scotland and northern England. Elizabeth Rattray sued him for divorce in 1788, because he had lived with Jean Aitkenhead since about 1779 and had twin daughters with her.<ref>Kathleen Hardesty Doig, Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland and Dennis A. Trinkle: James Tytler's edition (1777–1784): a vast expansion and improvement. In: Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland (ed.): ''The Early Britannica (1768–1803): the growth of an outstanding encyclopedia''. Voltaire Foundation, Oxford 2009, pp. 151–152.</ref>
+The years when Tytler worked as editor of the Encyclopædia Britannica (1777–1784 for the second edition, and 1788–1793 for the third) were his most lucrative. He also earned income from editing other works and translations. In March 1785 he became bankrupt again, possibly due to the costs of his engaging in hot air ballooning. He moved between several locations in Scotland and northern England. Elizabeth Rattray sued him for divorce in 1788, because he had lived with Jean Aitkenhead since about 1779 and had twin daughters with her.<ref>Kathleen Hardesty Doig, Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland and Dennis A. Trinkle: James Tytler's edition (1777–1784): a vast expansion and improvement. In: Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland (ed.): ''The Early Britannica (1768–1803): the growth of an outstanding encyclopedia''. Voltaire Foundation, Oxford 2009, pp. 151–152.</ref>
-He returned to Edinburgh in 1791. He was outlawed in absentia by the Scottish High Court because of political dissent and moved to Belfast in 1793, then in 1795 to the United States. In [[Salem, Massachusetts]], he edited the ''[[Salem Register]]'', published some works and sold medicine. On 9 January 1804, Tytler left his house drunk; two days later the sea returned his body.<ref>Kathleen Hardesty Doig, Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland and Dennis A. Trinkle: James Tytler's edition (1777–1784): a vast expansion and improvement. In: Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland (ed.): ''The Early Britannica (1768–1803): the growth of an outstanding encyclopedia''. Voltaire Foundation, Oxford 2009, pp. 69–155, here p. 154/155.</ref>
+He returned to Edinburgh in 1791. In 1793 he was charged with sedition for publishing a pamphlet championing the [[Rights of Man]], but fled Scotland prior to his trial, travelling first to [[Belfast]], and then in 1795 to the [[United States]]. He was outlawed in absentia.<ref>Melvin, Eric (2017), ''The Edinburgh of John Kay: Portraits and Tales of Every Day Life in Edinburgh's Golden Age'', Eric Melvin, Edinburgh, p. 186, {{isbn|9780995637801}}</ref> In [[Salem, Massachusetts]], he edited the ''[[Salem Register]]'', published some works and sold medicine. On 9 January 1804, Tytler left his house drunk; two days later the sea returned his body.<ref>Kathleen Hardesty Doig, Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland and Dennis A. Trinkle: James Tytler's edition (1777–1784): a vast expansion and improvement. In: Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland (ed.): ''The Early Britannica (1768–1803): the growth of an outstanding encyclopedia''. Voltaire Foundation, Oxford 2009, pp. 69–155, here p. 154/155.</ref>
 James and Elizabeth Rattray were members of the [[Glasites]], a radical Protestant sect. In the 1770s, Tytler left the sect and denounced it together with all churches. He remained a fervent Christian without denomination. In Salem he never went to church.<ref>Kathleen Hardesty Doig, Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland and Dennis A. Trinkle: James Tytler's edition (1777–1784): a vast expansion and improvement. In: Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland (ed.): ''The Early Britannica (1768–1803): the growth of an outstanding encyclopedia''. Voltaire Foundation, Oxford 2009, pp. 69–155, here 73/74, 155.</ref>
 == ''Encyclopædia Britannica'' ==
-Tytler had previously written more than edited; for example, in 1774 he was the author of two religious pamphlets that earned him little or no money. He came late to the [[Encyclopædia Britannica]], as editor of the second edition (1777–1784). He was paid less than his predecessor, [[William Smellie (encyclopedist)|William Smellie]], and it is possible he was engaged because one of the Britannica's publishers, [[Andrew Bell (engraver)|Andrew Bell]], had been assisted by Tytler on another work. As a group of historiographers wrote, 'Tytler displayed an uncharacteristic steadiness of purpose while working on the second edition.'<ref>Kathleen Hardesty Doig, Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland and Dennis A. Trinkle: James Tytler's edition (1777–1784): a vast expansion and improvement. In: Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland (ed.): ''The Early Britannica (1768–1803): the growth of an outstanding encyclopedia''. Voltaire Foundation, Oxford 2009, pp. 69–155, here 71, 74/75.</ref> Reviews of the second edition were lukewarm, but the sales showed an appreciation by the reading public.<ref>Kathleen Hardesty Doig, Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland and Dennis A. Trinkle: James Tytler's edition (1777–1784): a vast expansion and improvement. In: Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland (ed.): ''The Early Britannica (1768–1803): the growth of an outstanding encyclopedia''. Voltaire Foundation, Oxford 2009, pp. 69–155, here p. 146.</ref>
+Tytler had previously written more than edited; for example, in 1774 he was the author of two religious pamphlets that earned him little or no money. He came late to the ''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]'', as editor of the second edition (1777–1784). He was paid less than his predecessor, [[William Smellie (encyclopedist)|William Smellie]], and it is possible he was engaged because one of the Britannica's publishers, [[Andrew Bell (engraver)|Andrew Bell]], had been assisted by Tytler on another work. As a group of historiographers wrote, 'Tytler displayed an uncharacteristic steadiness of purpose while working on the second edition.'<ref>Kathleen Hardesty Doig, Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland and Dennis A. Trinkle: James Tytler's edition (1777–1784): a vast expansion and improvement. In: Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland (ed.): ''The Early Britannica (1768–1803): the growth of an outstanding encyclopedia''. Voltaire Foundation, Oxford 2009, pp. 69–155, here 71, 74/75.</ref> Reviews of the second edition were lukewarm, but the sales showed an appreciation by the reading public.<ref>Kathleen Hardesty Doig, Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland and Dennis A. Trinkle: James Tytler's edition (1777–1784): a vast expansion and improvement. In: Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland (ed.): ''The Early Britannica (1768–1803): the growth of an outstanding encyclopedia''. Voltaire Foundation, Oxford 2009, pp. 69–155, here p. 146.</ref>
-Tytler contributed some long treatises to the third edition (1788–1797), and may have been its first editor before he left Edinburgh in March 1788, the month before the first number was published.<ref>Kathleen Hardesty Doig, Frank A. Kafker, William E. Morris: Colin Macfarquhar, George Gleig and possibly James Tytler's edition (1788–1797): the attainment of recognition and eminence. In: Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland (ed.): ''The Early Britannica (1768–1803): the growth of an outstanding encyclopedia''. Voltaire Foundation, Oxford 2009, pp. 157–251, here p. 158.</ref> This left the editor's chair to Britannica's co-owner and Bell's partner, [[Colin Macfarquhar]]. Tytler continued to contribute heavily to the [[Encyclopædia Britannica Third Edition|third edition]] when he came back to Edinburgh, up to the letter M, which was produced in 1792 or '93.<ref>George Gleig in the foreword to the 1797 printing of the [[Encyclopædia Britannica Third Edition]], 1797, Vol.1, p. preface, Gleig lists authors of the 3rd edition</ref>
+Tytler contributed some long treatises to the third edition (1788–1797), and may have been its first editor before he left Edinburgh in March 1788, the month before the first number was published.<ref>Kathleen Hardesty Doig, Frank A. Kafker, William E. Morris: Colin Macfarquhar, George Gleig and possibly James Tytler's edition (1788–1797): the attainment of recognition and eminence. In: Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland (ed.): ''The Early Britannica (1768–1803): the growth of an outstanding encyclopedia''. Voltaire Foundation, Oxford 2009, pp. 157–251, here p. 158.</ref> This left the editor's chair to Britannica's co-owner and Bell's partner, [[Colin Macfarquhar]]. Tytler continued to contribute heavily to the [[Encyclopædia Britannica Third Edition|third edition]] when he came back to Edinburgh, up to the letter M, which was produced in 1792 or 1793.<ref>George Gleig in the foreword to the 1797 printing of the [[Encyclopædia Britannica Third Edition]], 1797, Vol.1, p. preface, Gleig lists authors of the 3rd edition</ref>
 == Politics ==
@@ Line 35: / Line 35: @@
 == Aviation ==
-The inventive Tytler rivalled the French pioneers of hot air ballooning and was the first person in Britain to ascend in a balloon, almost a month before his rival to the title, [[Vincenzo Lunardi]], made a hydrogen balloon ascent in London. Tytler's venture was expensive, but succeeded after several attempts on 25 August 1784, in Edinburgh. His balloon rose a few feet from the ground. Two days later he managed to reach a height of some 350 feet, travelling for half a mile between Green House on the northern edge of what is now [[Holyrood Park]] to the nearby village of [[Restalrig]]. Later trials were less fortunate. In October his balloon only took off after Tytler left the basket, to the disappointment of the crowd. Having previously been 'the toast of Edinburgh', he was ridiculed and called a coward. His last flight was on 26 July 1785.<ref>Kathleen Hardesty Doig, Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland and Dennis A. Trinkle: James Tytler's edition (1777–1784): a vast expansion and improvement. In: Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland (ed.): ''The Early Britannica (1768–1803): the growth of an outstanding encyclopedia''. Voltaire Foundation, Oxford 2009, pp. 69–155, here p. 151.</ref>
+The inventive Tytler rivalled the French pioneers of hot air ballooning and was the first person in Britain to ascend in a balloon, almost a month before his rival to the title, [[Vincenzo Lunardi]], made a hydrogen balloon ascent in London. Tytler's venture was expensive, but succeeded after several attempts on 25 August 1784, in Edinburgh. His balloon rose a few feet from the ground. Two days later he managed to reach a height of not more than 300 feet, travelling for half a mile between Green House on the northern edge of what is now [[Holyrood Park]] to the nearby village of [[Restalrig]].<ref>Grant's Old and New Edinburgh vol.5 p.135</ref> Later trials were less fortunate. In October his balloon only took off after Tytler left the basket, to the disappointment of the crowd. Having previously been 'the toast of Edinburgh', he was ridiculed and called a coward. His last flight was on 26 July 1785.<ref>Kathleen Hardesty Doig, Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland and Dennis A. Trinkle: James Tytler's edition (1777–1784): a vast expansion and improvement. In: Frank A. Kafker, Jeff Loveland (ed.): ''The Early Britannica (1768–1803): the growth of an outstanding encyclopedia''. Voltaire Foundation, Oxford 2009, pp. 69–155, here p. 151.</ref>
 Tytler was overshadowed by Lunardi—the self-styled "Daredevil Aeronaut"—who carried out five sensational flights in Scotland, creating a ballooning fad and inspiring ladies' fashions in skirts and hats.  The "Lunardi bonnet" is mentioned in the poem ''[[To a Louse]]'' by [[Robert Burns]].
@@ Line 43: / Line 43: @@
 ==External links==
-*[http://www.stamp-shop.com/tytler/ Article by Robert Murray]
+*[http://www.stamp-shop.com/tytler/ Article by Robert Murray] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316155627/http://stamp-shop.com/tytler/ |date=16 March 2016 }}
 *[http://gillonj.tripod.com/edinburghfireballoon/]
 *[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/5320752.stm BBC News article]
-*[http://www.stamp-shop.com/songs/tytler.html "Tytler's Up !", a tune in Tytler's honour]
+*[http://www.stamp-shop.com/songs/tytler.html "Tytler's Up !", a tune in Tytler's honour] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303215248/http://www.stamp-shop.com/songs/tytler.html |date=3 March 2016 }}
 ==References==
@@ Line 54: / Line 54: @@
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Tytler, James}}
-[[Category:People from Angus]]
+[[Category:People from Angus, Scotland]]
 [[Category:Writers from Salem, Massachusetts]]
 [[Category:People associated with Edinburgh]]
@@ Line 66: / Line 66: @@
 [[Category:18th-century Scottish people]]
 [[Category:Scottish encyclopedists]]
-[[Category:British pharmacists]]
+[[Category:Scottish pharmacists]]
 [[Category:Alumni of the University of Edinburgh]]
+[[Category:19th-century British pharmacists]]
+[[Category:18th-century British pharmacists]]
+[[Category:19th-century American pharmacists]]

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