The New International Encyclopædia/Vizetelly, Henry Richard

VIZETELLY, Henry Richard (1820-1894). An English printer, publisher, and author, born in the parish of Saint Botolph, London. As an engraver he worked under John William Bonnar and Orrin Smith, and his best work was for an edition of Longfellow's Poems. With Herbert Ingram, the founder, Vizetelly was prominent in establishing the Illustrated London News in 1842. In 1852 he began the publication of books, and about this time he issued a reprint of Uncle Tom's Cabin, which was very successful. He vigorously opposed the newspaper stamp duty and was sued for penalties amounting to $60,000 for publishing his newspaper, the Illustrated Times (founded 1855), without the stamp; his example was followed by other newspaper proprietors, the duty was abolished, and the penalties were not enforced. He was in Paris throughout its siege by the Germans, and subsequently published a description of events in that city entitled Paris in Peril (1882). Afterwards he established a publishing house in London. He issued translations of Zola's novels, and, on the ground that these were 'obscene libels,' he was fined and imprisoned for three months. His brother Frank, illustrator and war correspondent, born 1830, was with the army of Hicks Pasha at El-Obcid in November, 1883, and probably perished in the Kashgil massacre. Several sons of Henry Richard Vizetelly achieved prominence: Edward Henry (1848-1903), journalist, war correspondent, and author; Ernest Alfred (1853— ), journalist, war correspondent, and translator, particularly of Zola; Arthur (1853— ), editor and translator; and Frank Horace (1864 — ). author and encyclopaedist.