CONDER, JOSIAH, was born in London on the 17th of September, 1789. He was the son of a bookseller, and very early displayed a taste for literature. His first attempts were given to the world in the 'Athenaeum; a monthly magazine then edited by Dr. Aikin ; and in 1810, in connection with a few friends, a volume of poems was published under the title of 'The Associate Minstrel.' In 1814, being at the time a publisher and bookseller in St. Paul's Churchyard, he purchased the 'Eclectic Review,' of which he continued to be editor until 1837, though he retired from the bookselling business in 1819. Under his management the 'Eclectic Review' received the assistance of many eminent men among the non-conformists, such as Robert Hall, John Foster, Dr. Chalmers, Dr. Vaughan, and others. During this period his industry was displayed by the production of other works also. In 1818 appeared two volumes On Protestant Nonconformity.' In 1824 The Modern Traveller' was commenced : it extended to thirty-three volumes, nearly the whole of which were compiled by Mr. Conder, and all under his superintendence. In 1824 also appeared The Star in the East,' a poem ; and in 1834 a 'Dictionary of Geography,' and a new translation of the 'Epistle to the Hebrews, with Notes.' In 1836 he edited The Congregational Hymn-Book,' issued under the sanction of the Congregational Union ; and in 1837 he published The Choir and Oratory : Sacred Poems,' to which Mrs. Conder was a contributor.
He was the author of many other works, but we have mentioned the principal.
Mr. Conder's reputation having become established among the Dissenters, he was requested in 1832 to undertake the editorship of The Patriot,' a newspaper recently established in the dissenting interest. From this time he took a more active part in the public proceedings of the Dissenters, attending their meetings, and affording them the assistance of his counsels. The Patriot,' under Mr. Conder's management, became the organ of what may be termed in politics the Whig section of the Dissenters, as opposed to the Radical section; while in ecclesiastical affairs it represented the Congregationalists and Baptists. For twenty-three years Mr. Condoor fulfilled the duties of his office with exemplary care, industry, and liberality ; producing also occasionally works of importance, such as 'An Analytical and Compara tive View of all Religions," The Harmony of History with Prophecy,' &c , and several pamphlets on stirring topics of the day.
Mr. Conder married in 1815 Joan Elizabeth, the daughter of Mr. Thomas of Southgate, by whom he left four sons and a daughter. After a short illness, he died on December 27, 1855.