author
P. Austin Nuttall
1792–1869
Best remembered for his dictionaries and reference books, this 19th-century English scholar helped shape how generations of readers looked up words, names, and ideas. His work sits at the crossroads of language, education, and practical learning.
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About the author
Born in Ormskirk, Lancashire, Peter Austin Nuttall was an English editor, classicist, and reference writer who lived from about 1792 or 1793 until December 9, 1869. After completing his studies, he moved to London and received a doctorate from Aberdeen University in 1822.
He became known above all for dictionary work and other practical books of reference. Sources describe him as being closely connected with The Gentleman's Magazine between about 1820 and 1837, and later as an editor involved with classical and educational publications. His name is especially associated with English dictionaries and with the reference tradition that later carried on in works such as The Nuttall Encyclopaedia.
Nuttall's appeal for modern readers lies in his clear, useful approach to knowledge. Rather than writing for a narrow academic audience, he helped organize language and information in forms that ordinary readers, students, and teachers could use every day.