Exhibition: The Sampson Low Collection

Sampson Low's non-publishing activities

In 1836 Sampson Low and his eldest son Sampson Junior were instrumental in establishing 'The Royal Society for the Protection of Life from Fire' which, according to Edward Marston, "...flourished and did good service for many years in the saving of innumerable lives, under their voluntary and vigorous superintendence". The Society's committee was based at 42 Lamb's Conduit Street, the site of Low's bookshop and reading rooom. On this page there is an image of the building as it looks today.

 

Sampson Low initially acted as secretary to the Society. In 1844 he published an account of 'The Metropolitan Charities' which described the Society as follows: "For the preservation of life from fire, by furnishing an organized body of men, who are provided with, and instructed in the use of, public fire escapes, kept in readiness at various convenient stations; and also by firemen, policemen, and others, who are excited to a prompt attention to the scene of danger, by such rewards as the merits of the case may deserve." In his 1904 autobiography 'After Work', Edward Marston recalls that, "Oftentimes during his connection with that Society, after laborious days spent in business, [Low] used to spend long hours of the night in attending fires, or in rushing round to see that the Escape men were wide awake and on the alert."

 

In central London the Society provided fire escapes and attendants at around seventy locations. Work by the Society (also referred to as 'The Royal Society for the Preservation of Life from Fire' was described in ‘G. F. Cruchley’s ‘London in 1865: A Handbook for Strangers’: "Society for the Preservation of Life from Fire: office, 47 Ludgate Hill; secretary, Mr. S. Low, jun.; was first established in 1836, but not fully organised until 1843. It maintains, in different parts of the Metropolis, 73 fire-escape stations, usually at distances of about half a mile from each other. At each station there is a fire-escape, attended throughout the night by a conductor well instructed in its use, and provided with all necessary implements. From 1843 to March 31, 1861, the Society's fire-escapes have attended no less than 5211 fires and rescued 670 lives."

 

In 1865 the Society was taken over by the Metropolitan Board of Works who incorporated its employees and equipment into the new Metropolitan Fire Brigade, the forerunner of the modern London Fire Brigade. The Society itself still exists and provides recognition to people who perform acts of bravery in rescuing others from the life-threatening effects from fires in the UK.

 

From its inception in 1837, Sampson Low took an active interest in 'The Booksellers Provident Institution' which was set up by a group of senior publishers and book sellers led by paper manufacturer John Dickinson (1782-1869) in order to provide care and support to book trade people. Low served on the institution’s committee and acted as a vice-president. In his will he left the institution a substantial legacy. 

 

As well as establishing 'The Royal Society for the Protection of Life from Fire' with his father, Sampson Low Junior also compiled and published a report titled 'The Charities of London, comprehending the Benevolent, Educational and Religious Institutions, their Origins and Designs, Process and Present Condition'. The report was first published in 1850 and documented the various charities of London and their histories.  

 

The second image on this page is a photograph of Sampson Low in later years taken from his long-time publishing partner and friend, Edward Marston's book 'After Work'. According to Marston, "[Sampson Low] was a deeply religious man and perhaps never so happy as when engaged in Sunday duties as a schoolteacher, or in superintending some good work for the benefit of the poor of his neighbourhood". It is therefore no surprise that Sampson Low was involved in philanthropic ventures beyond the world of publishing.