CASSELL, JOHN (1817-1865), British publisher, was born in Manchester on Jan. 23, 1817. His father was the landlord of a public-house, and John was apprenticed to a joiner. He was self-educated, gaining by his own efforts a considerable acquaintance with English literature and a knowledge of French. He came to London in 1836 to work at his trade ; in 1847 he established himself as a tea and coffee merchant, and about 1850 started a publishing business with the object of supplying good literature to the working classes. From the offices of the firm, which became in 18J9 Cassell, Petter, Galpin and Co., were issued the Popular Educator (1852-55), the Technical Educator (187o 72), the Magazine of Art (1878-1903), Cassell's Magazine (from 185 2) and numerous editions of standard works. A special feature of Cassell's popular books was the illustration. At the time of the Crimean War he procured from Paris the cuts used in L'Illustration, and by printing them in his Family Paper (begun in 18 53) secured a large circulation for it. The firm was converted in 1883 into a limited liability company, under the name of Cassell and Company, Limited. John Cassell died in London on April 2, 1865.