Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Rivington, Francis
RIVINGTON, FRANCIS (1805–1885), publisher, third son of Charles Rivington the younger (1754–1831), was born on 19 Jan. 1805 [see under Rivington, John, (1720–1792)]. Having been educated at Bremen in Germany, he became in 1827 a member of the firm of Rivington, of St. Paul's Churchyard and Waterloo Place, London. As connected with the publication of ‘Tracts for the Times’ (Rev. T. Mozley, Reminiscences, i. 312) and Newman's ‘Parochial Sermons,’ and as publisher of the ‘British Critic,’ he was associated with Ward, Newman, the Mozleys, and other leading members of the Tractarian party (ib. ii. 217, 394–6; W. Ward, W. G. Ward and the Oxford Movement, 1890, p. 247; Rev. J. B. Mozley, Letters, 1885, pp. 109, 146–8; Liddon, Life of Pusey, 1893, i. 423–424). In 1853 the business was entirely withdrawn from St. Paul's Churchyard to the branch in Waterloo Place. Rivington retired from the firm in July 1859, and was succeeded by his second cousin, John (1812–1886), a partner since 1842, and his son, Francis Hansard (b. 1834). The former retired in 1867, and the business was carried on by the latter and his brother Septimus (b. 1846) until May 1889. From this date Francis Hansard was the sole member of the firm to June 1890, when the whole business was taken over by Messrs. Longman (Bookseller, December 1859 and June 1890). In 1893 the name reappeared in the style of Rivington, Percival & Co., of King Street, Covent Garden, of which Mr. Septimus Rivington is the chief partner (Publishers' Circular, 1 July 1893; Athenæum, 1 July 1893).
During the latter part of his life he resided at Eastbourne, where he died on 7 Jan. 1885, on the eve of completing his eightieth year. Rivington was twice married, and left a large family. A portrait, taken in his fifty-ninth year, is reproduced by S. Rivington (The Publishing House of Rivington, 1894, p. 32, see also pp. 46–54). Besides a few pamphlets on church subjects, he wrote ‘Some Account of the Life and Writings of St. Paul,’ London, 1874, 8vo; and edited Dean William Sherlock's ‘Practical Discourse concerning Death.’
[Bookseller, January 1885; Publishers' Circular, 15 Jan. 1885.]