John Mills (encyclopedist)

John Mills (c. 1717 – c. 1794) was an English writer on agriculture, translator and editor.[1] Mills and Gottfried Sellius are known for being the first to prepare a French edition of Ephraim Chambers's Cyclopaedia for publication in 1745,[2] which eventually resulted in the Encyclopédie published in France between 1751 and 1772.

As writer on agriculture, Mills is credited for publishing the earliest complete treatise on all branches of agriculture.[3] His chief work, A New System of Practical Husbandry, in 5 volumes, appeared in 1767. It combines the results of the experience and observations of such writers as Evelyn, Duhamel, John Worlidge, and Jethro Tull, and was highly commended. Mills was a warm advocate of small farms.[4]

  1. ^ John Goldworth Alger (1836–1907) and Anne P. Baker. "Mills, John (c. 1717-1786x1796), writer on agriculture". in: Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. 1894/2004
  2. ^ John Lough: The Encyclopédie. Slatkine 1971/1989, ISBN 9782051010467, p. 9 (restricted online copy, p. 9, at Google Books)
  3. ^ John Donaldson. "John Mills, F.R.S.". in: Agricultural Biography, 1854, p. 51
  4. ^ Lee, Sidney, ed. (1894). "Mills, John (d.1784?)" . Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 37. London: Smith, Elder & Co. p. 460.