George Nicholson (printer)

George Nicholson (1760 – 1 November 1825) was an English printer, author, and vegetarianism advocate.[1]

George Nicholson
Born1760
Keighley, England
Died1 November 1825
Stourport, England
OccupationPrinter, writer
The Primeval Diet of Man: Arguments in Favour of Vegetable Food: On Man's Conduct to Animals, fourth edition, published in 1819

Life

Nicholson was born in Keighley, West Riding of Yorkshire, England.[2]

Nicholson had started a printing business with his brother George and in 1797 they moved their business to Manchester. Two of their more significant works were Pious Reflections for Every Day of the Month; Translated from the French of Fénelon by John Clowes and his own book, The Conduct of Man to Inferior Animals.[2]

Rachel Prescott of Manchester published a book of poetry in 1799 which was dedicated to Nicholson. Her dedication was based on their congeniality of mind, and on principles which can experience neither alloy nor decay.[3]

Nicholson settled in Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire in 1808 where he remained until his death in 1825. He was a nationally known printer of the time. His printing press was at 15 Bridge Street and his premises are now a listed building.[4] Nicholson was interested in animal welfare, women's rights and abolition of slavery.[5]

Nicholson died in Stourport on 1 November 1825.[6][7]

Vegetarianism

Nicholson was a vegetarian.[1] He authored The Conduct of Man to Inferior Animals in 1797, which was expanded into The Primeval Diet of Man: Arguments in Favour of Vegetable Food: On Man's Conduct to Animals, in 1801. Nicholson's book cited Porphyry, Plutarch, Erasmus Darwin, John Arbuthnot and many others.[5] A supplement, On Food was added to the 1803 edition, offering vegetarian recipes.[5]

Nicholson's argument for vegetarianism consisted of five components.[5] He argued that the earliest humans ate a vegetarian diet, and we should mimic this diet as a healthier and moral way of life. He argued that human conduct towards animals is frequently unjust and if we recognize how similar we are to other species we will treat them with more respect. He also urged for education and legislative protection for animals.[5] The book was republished by Edwin Mellen Press with an introduction and notes by historian Rod Preece in 2000.[8]

Selected publications

References
  1. Salt, Henry. International Vegetarian Union (ed.). "History of Vegetarianism – Europe: The Middle Ages to the 18th Century – George Nicholson 1760–1825". Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  2. "Nicholson, George (1760–1825), printer". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/20133. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  3. "Prescott, Rachel (1765/6–1824), poet and philanthropist". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/107543. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  4. Historic England. "14 and 15, Bridge Street (1292406)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  5. Preece, Rod. (2008). Sins of the Flesh: A History of Ethical Vegetarian Thought. UBC Press. pp. 242–243. ISBN 978-0-7748-15093
  6. Timperley, Charles Henry. (1842). Encyclopaedia of Literary and Typographical Anecdote. London: Henry G. Bohn. pp. 896–987
  7. Axon, William E. A. (1886). The Annals of Manchester: A Chronological Record from the Earliest Times to the End of 1885. Manchester. p. 170.
  8. "George Nicholson’s on the Primeval Diet of Man (1801) – Vegetarianism and Human Conduct Toward Animals". Edwin Mellen Press. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
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