Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Debrett, John
DEBRETT, JOHN (d. 1822), publisher and compiler, took over the business of John Almon [q. v.], opposite Burlington House in Piccadilly, in 1781. His shop continued to be the resort of the whigs, the Pittites going chiefly to his neighbour, Stockdale. Among Debrett's publications were a new edition of ‘The New Foundling Hospital for Wit,’ 1784, 6 vols. 12mo, and ‘Asylum for Fugitive Pieces in Prose and Verse,’ 1785–1788, 4 vols. 12mo. At the end of the former work, ‘The New Peerage,’ 1784, 3 vols. 8vo, is advertised. This had been Almon's, who published peerages, but is not known to have had any share in their compilation. The first edition of Debrett's ‘Peerage of England, Scotland, and Ireland, containing an Account of all the Peers,’ 2 vols. 12mo, was published in May 1802, with plates of arms, a second edition appeared in September 1802, a third in June 1803, a fourth in 1805, a fifth in 1806, a sixth in 1808, a seventh in 1809, an eighth in 1812, a ninth in 1814, a tenth in 1816, an eleventh in 1817, a twelfth in 1819, a thirteenth in 1820, a fourteenth in 1822, a fifteenth in 1823, which was the last edition edited by Debrett, and not published until after his death. The next edition came out in 1825. The first edition of ‘The Baronetage of England, containing their Descent and Present State, by John Debrett,’ 2 vols. 12mo, appeared in 1808. The latter and the ‘Peerage’ still flourish, and Debrett's name has become so associated with such books of reference that it is also used in the title of companion works. For a time the ‘British Imperial Calendar’ was edited by Debrett. He retired from business about 1814, and lived partly upon a pension from his wife and partly from his compilations. He is described as a kindly, good-natured man, but without business aptitudes. He died at his lodgings in Upper Gloucester Street, Regent's Park, on 15 Nov. 1822.
[Gent. Mag. vol. xcii. pt. ii. p. 474; Annual Biography, 1822, p. 441; Timperley's Encyclopædia, pp. 823, 886; Catalogue of Works on the Peerage and Baronetage in Library of Sir C. G. Young, 1827, 8vo, pp. 40–1.]