Publisher and bookseller. Born in Edinburgh, Blackwood began as a bookseller, but went on to establish the famous and influential Blackwood's Magazine in the city in 1817 which he edited and published for seventeen years until his death. This enterprise was supported by writers such as James Hogg (1770 - 1835), John Lockhart (1794 - 1854) and John Wilson ('Christopher North'; 1785 - 1854). He was followed in his publishing business by his sons; his son Alexander edited Blackwood's Magazine between 1834 and 1845 and John (1819-79) edited and published the magazine for a further thirty-three years. It continued as a family concern until it ceased publication in 1980.