CONSTABLE, Archibald, an eminent bookseller and publisher, was born Feb. 24th, 1774, at Kellie, in Fife-shire, where his father was land-steward on the estate of the Earl of Kellie. He received the usual branches of education at the parish school of Carnbee; and in 1788 was apprenticed to Mr Peter Hill, bookseller in Edinburgh. After the expiry of his apprenticeship he married the daughter of Mr Willison, a respectable printer; and established himself as a bookseller in a small shop in the High Street, to which his sale catalogues of curious and rare books soon attracted all the bibliographers and lovers of learning in the city.
In 1801 he became the proprietor of the Farmer's Magazine, and also of the Scots Magazine—a miscellany which, under the editorial superintendence of Dr John Leyden and the Rev. Dr Alexander Murray, attained a considerable reputation. Constable is, however, chiefly known from his connection with the Edinburgh Review; the first number of which was published by him in October 1802. However much his sagacity may have tended to guide its projectors in the carrying out of their design, it is certain that he himself was not the author of the project, and was rather startled at the boldness of the scheme when first propounded to him.
His reputation as a publisher was greatly enhanced by his connection with the novels of Sir Walter Scott, the first of which appeared in 1805. For some of these tales Mr Constable had the merit of occasionally suggesting subjects and finding titles. He was also the proprietor of the Encyclopaedia Britannica, and published a supplement to one of its earlier editions. In 1826, whilst busily engaged in the publication of the Miscellany which bears his name, Mr Constable became bankrupt; and a sudden illness shortly afterwards brought him to the grave, July 21, 1827.