The Biographical Dictionary of America/Appleton, George Swett

APPLETON, George Swett, publisher, was born at Andover, Mass., Aug. 11, 1821, third son of Daniel and Hannah (Adams) Appleton. He attended Phillips academy, Andover, Mass., and later went to Europe, where he studied for four years at the University of Leipsic, Germany, after which he travelled, becoming proficient in the Italian, German and French languages. He was a connoisseur of painting and accumulated a fine collection of masterpieces of art. Upon his return to America he was for several years engaged in the book publishing business in Philadelphia. In 1849 he returned to New York and was admitted to partnership with his brothers in the firm of D. Appleton & Co. His eminent attainments as a scholar and connoisseur of art were of great service to the firm; of which, in fact, he was the literary counselor. He instituted and carried on the monthly issue of Appleton's Art Journal for many years; developed the resources of the house for publishing foreign classics in the original and in English, and text-books to facilitate the study of foreign languages; and planned the Popular Science monthly. Mr. Appleton died at his home in Riverdale, on the Hudson, July 7, 1878.