John Latimer

John Latimer (7 May 1824 – 4 January 1904) was a British journalist, antiquarian, and historian. Born in Newcastle upon Tyne, he spent the latter half of his life in Bristol, where he served as the editor of the Bristol Mercury for twenty-five years. He is known for his multi-volume Annals of Bristol, which chronicle the city's history from the seventeenth through the nineteenth centuries, and for his organisation of the city's ancient archives.

Early life Latimer was born on 7 May 1824 in Newcastle upon Tyne. He was interested in English and history during his schooling and, starting at the age of twelve, maintained a diary of current events, a habit that preceded his later career as an annalist.

He began his professional life as a freelance journalist in Newcastle. His earliest contribution to historical literature was a continuation of John Sykes's Local Records, a register of events in Newcastle and the surrounding district. Upon moving to Bristol, he took an interest in the city's maritime character, particularly the ships sailing into the city centre near Queen Square.

Historical work

While Latimer wrote ephemeral historical sketches during his journalistic career, his major works were produced after he retired. Working from the library of his home at Trelawney Place in Cotham, and later Redland, he dedicated his retirement to compiling the history of his adopted city.

His primary work was the Annals of Bristol, published in three volumes. Latimer wrote these in reverse chronological order: The Annals of Bristol in the Nineteenth Century (1887): Written first as Latimer had witnessed many of the events personally. This volume took four years to complete. The Annals of Bristol in the Eighteenth Century (1893): This volume took six years to research and write. The Annals of Bristol in the Seventeenth Century (1900): This volume required seven years of research due to the scarcity of periodical sources from the era. Latimer relied on State Papers, Corporation archives, the British Museum, and Privy Council minutes. He also organized manuscripts relating to the poems of Thomas Chatterton, including original letters from the Rowley controversy, and arranged the Rev. H. J. Ellacombe’s collections on campanology.

Legacy Latimer's memorial is located in the north transept of Bristol Cathedral. Following his death, a committee of citizens commissioned a memorial tablet. On 14 January 1905, the tablet was unveiled in the north transept of Bristol Cathedral.

By the mid-20th century, Latimer's grave in Brunswick Square had fallen into disrepair, with the headstone leaning significantly. It was subsequently restored and straightened by the Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society. His Annals became sought after by collectors; by 1920, a set was sold at auction for £10, a record price for modern Bristol books at the time. His works were reprinted in the 1970s and remain standard references for the history of Bristol.

Selected works