the london library
The London Library was established in 1841 at a time when there were no lending
libraries in London and before state-funded libraries existed. Frustrated by
being unable to borrow books in London, author Thomas Carlyle began gathering
support for a lending library and created a founding committee in April 1840 to
oversee the work of raising launch funds. Chaired by Lord Lyttleton, its members
included John Forster (Charles Dickens’ greatest friend and unofficial business
manager), MP William Gladstone, poet and politician Richard Monckton Milnes,
diplomat William Christie and biographer James Spedding.
