# Edward Cave

> British publisher

**Wikidata**: [Q151799](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q151799)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Cave)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/edward-cave

## Summary
Edward Cave was a British publisher best known for founding and editing The Gentleman's Magazine, one of the first general-interest monthly periodicals in England. He is also remembered by his pen name "Sylvanus Urban." His work helped establish new standards for periodical publishing in the 18th century.

## Biography
- Born: Unknown
- Nationality: British
- Education: Unknown
- Known for: Founding and editing The Gentleman's Magazine
- Employer(s): Self-employed publisher
- Field(s): Publishing, journalism, typography

## Contributions
Edward Cave founded The Gentleman's Magazine in 1731, creating one of the first successful general-interest monthly periodicals in England. As both publisher and editor, he established a model for periodical publishing that influenced the development of magazines for generations. He operated under the pen name "Sylvanus Urban" when writing for the magazine. His work as a typographer and publisher helped advance printing and publishing standards in 18th-century Britain.

## FAQs
Where did Edward Cave work?
Edward Cave was self-employed as a publisher and operated his own publishing business, where he founded and edited The Gentleman's Magazine.

What is Edward Cave known for?
Edward Cave is known for founding The Gentleman's Magazine in 1731 and for using the pen name "Sylvanus Urban" as its editor.

What was Edward Cave's role in publishing?
Edward Cave was a publisher, typographer, and editor who established new standards for periodical publishing through The Gentleman's Magazine.

## Why They Matter
Edward Cave revolutionized periodical publishing in 18th-century Britain by creating The Gentleman's Magazine, which became a model for future magazines. His innovative approach to compiling diverse content—including news, essays, and letters—in a monthly format helped establish the magazine as a distinct literary form. The success of his publication demonstrated the commercial viability of periodicals and influenced the development of journalism and publishing practices that followed.

## Notable For
- Founded The Gentleman's Magazine in 1731
- Used the pen name "Sylvanus Urban"
- Established one of the first successful general-interest monthly periodicals
- Advanced printing and publishing standards in 18th-century Britain

## Body
### Early Life and Education
Edward Cave's exact birth date and place are unknown. He received his education at Rugby School, a private school in Rugby, Warwickshire, England, which was founded in 1567. The details of his early career before establishing himself as a publisher are not documented in the available sources.

### Career in Publishing
Cave established himself as a publisher in London during the early 18th century. He combined his skills as a typographer with his editorial vision to create innovative publications. His most significant achievement was founding The Gentleman's Magazine in 1731, which he published and edited for many years.

### The Gentleman's Magazine
The Gentleman's Magazine was launched in 1731 and continued publication until 1922, making it one of the longest-running periodicals in history. Cave operated the magazine from London, establishing its headquarters there. The publication covered a wide range of topics including news, essays, poetry, and letters, creating a format that would influence magazine publishing for centuries to come.

### Professional Identity
Cave wrote for and edited The Gentleman's Magazine under the pen name "Sylvanus Urban," a persona that became well-known to readers of the publication. This practice of using a pseudonym was common among editors and writers of the period, but Cave's "Sylvanus Urban" became particularly associated with his work and the magazine itself.

### Legacy in Publishing
As a publisher, typographer, and editor, Cave made significant contributions to the development of periodical publishing in Britain. His work helped establish standards for magazine format, content diversity, and editorial practices that influenced subsequent generations of publishers and journalists. The Gentleman's Magazine became a model for general-interest publications that followed, demonstrating the commercial and cultural viability of the monthly magazine format.

## References

1. BnF authorities
2. Integrated Authority File
3. datos.bne.es
4. International Standard Name Identifier
5. SNAC
6. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
7. Virtual International Authority File
8. CERL Thesaurus