Encyclopædia Britannica
A long-running, general-knowledge English-language encyclopedia, published in print and online.
Chronology: 1768 – Present
Origins & Early Life
The Encyclopædia Britannica (Latin for 'British Encyclopædia') is a general-knowledge English-language encyclopaedia. It has been published since 1768 and, after several ownership changes, is currently owned by Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. The 15th edition, published in 2010, spans 32 volumes and 32,640 pages and was the last printed edition.
Pivotal Works & Achievements
Since 2016, it has been published online at Britannica.com. Printed for 245 years, the Britannica was the longest-running in-print encyclopaedia in the English language. It was first published between 1768 and 1771 in Edinburgh, Scotland, in weekly instalments that came together to form three volumes. At first, the encyclopaedia grew quickly in size from edition to edition.
Enduring Legacy & Impact
The second edition expanded to 10 volumes, and by its fourth edition (1801–1810), it had expanded to 20 volumes. Since the beginning of the twentieth century, its size, measured as total word count, has remained roughly steady at about 40 million words. The Britannica has had many notable contributors. The 9th (1875–1889) and 11th editions (1911) are considered landmark encyclopaedias for scholarship and literary style. Following its acquisition in 1901 by an American firm and starting with the 11th edition, the encyclopaedia shortened and simplified articles to broaden its appeal to the North American market.
Source: Wikipedia