Founded in 1768 in Edinburgh, Encyclopædia Britannica is a general reference encyclopedia noted for its multivolume print sets and, since the 1990s, its online and education-technology offerings. Its first edition (1768–1771) was compiled principally by the Scottish printer William Smellie for the founders Andrew Bell and Colin Macfarquhar, and it was issued in 100 weekly parts before being bound into three volumes. Encyclopædia Britannica;
National Library of Scotland. (
britannica.com)
History and early editions
- –First edition (1768–1771). The first number was advertised on 10 December 1768 in Edinburgh; the project was credited on its title page to “a society of gentlemen in Scotland.” Smellie, engaged by Bell and Macfarquhar, compiled most of the text.
Encyclopædia Britannica;
William Smellie; [The Early Britannica: The Growth of an Outstanding Encyclopedia](book://Frank A. Kafker & Jeff Loveland|The Early Britannica: The Growth of an Outstanding Encyclopedia|Voltaire Foundation|2009). (
- –Nineteenth-century expansion. The 9th edition (1875–1889) is often called “the scholar’s encyclopaedia,” reflecting its broad roster of eminent contributors and updated scholarship; the set was edited by T. S. Baynes and, later jointly, William Robertson Smith.
- –Early 20th century. The renowned 11th edition (1910–1911), edited in part by Hugh Chisholm, was followed by supplemental 12th (1922) and 13th (1926) editions that extended coverage through World War I and the 1920s.
Ownership and corporate change
- –Move to U.S. ownership and the Sears era. In the early 20th century, U.S. publishers assumed control; by the 1920s ownership associated with The Times (London) and A. & C. Black gave way to U.S. arrangements. In 1928–1932, Sears, Roebuck and Company controlled publication and introduced mass direct-sales methods and the practice of continuous revision that kept the set current via annual reprints.
- –University of Chicago and William Benton. In 1943 William Benton, then a University of Chicago vice president, arranged for the university to receive Britannica from Sears; Benton supplied working capital, became chairman and majority stockholder, and later placed ownership with the William Benton Foundation for the university’s benefit.
- –Sale to Jacob E. (Jacqui) Safra. In late 1995–January 1996 the Benton Foundation sold Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. to an investment group led by Swiss financier Jacob E. Safra, prompting restructuring and the end of the door‑to‑door sales force.
University of Chicago Chronicle;
Los Angeles Times (1995);
The 15th edition and reorganization of knowledge
- –“Britannica 3” (1974). The 15th edition, conceived with major input from philosopher Mortimer J. Adler and general editor Warren E. Preece, restructured the set into three coordinated parts: the 10‑volume Micropædia (brief, fact‑oriented entries), the multi‑volume Macropædia (long, signed articles), and the single‑volume Propædia (an outline of knowledge). A comprehensive revision in 1985 expanded the set to 32 volumes and shifted the index to a separate two‑volume Index.
Digital transition and online services
- –Early electronic and online offerings. Under editor-in-chief Robert McHenry, Britannica launched Britannica Online in 1994 as the first Internet-based encyclopedia service; in 1999 the company introduced Britannica.com, briefly offering free access that overwhelmed servers on launch.
Wired (1999). (
- –Competition and strategy. In the 1990s, CD‑ROM encyclopedias—notably Microsoft Encarta—and then web-based resources reshaped consumer demand for reference works.
- –End of the print set (2012). On 13 March 2012 Britannica announced it would cease publishing the print encyclopedia; the 32‑volume 2010 printing was the final set, as the company shifted all new editions to digital platforms.
The Guardian;
CNBC;
Editorial approach and contributors
- –Britannica’s model combines in‑house editorial oversight with contributions from subject specialists; notable contributors across editions include scientists, scholars, and public figures. The 9th and 11th editions are especially cited for the scope and literary quality of their signed articles.
Corporate structure and brands
- –Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., headquartered in Chicago, operates as part of the Britannica Group alongside brands such as Merriam‑Webster and Melingo. In May 2021 Jorge Cauz was appointed CEO of the Britannica Group, having previously led the company during its transition beyond the print set.
Britannica Corporate: About Us;
Anniversaries and digitization
- –For the 250th anniversary in 2018, the National Library of Scotland digitized and published a complete first edition online, highlighting its origins in the Scottish Enlightenment and the public’s sustained interest in landmark editions.
National Library of Scotland;
ITV News. (
Recent developments
- –In the 2020s the Britannica Group has emphasized classroom platforms, consumer learning products, and AI‑assisted features layered on its vetted article base while maintaining an editorial team led by an editor in chief.
Key milestones and structures
- –Continuous revision: annual reprints and rolling updates originated in the Sears era and influenced later editorial programs.
- –Structural innovation: the Micropædia/Macropædia/Propædia framework, created for the 15th edition and revised in 1985, organized short entries, long articles, and an outline of knowledge for integrated reference and study.