James Macaulay (editor)

James Macaulay (1817–1902) was a Scottish medical man, journalist and author, best known as a periodical editor.

Born in Edinburgh on 22 May 1817, he was the eldest son of the physician Alexander Macaulay (1783–1868). He was educated at Edinburgh Academy. He then went to Edinburgh University, where after taking the arts course, he took up medicine.

With his fellow-student and lifelong friend Edward Forbes, Macaulay went to Paris in 1837-8, and witnessed François Magendie's experiments on animals; he became an opponent of vivisection. He graduated both M.A. and M.D. at Edinburgh in 1838. He was elected Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh on 7 July 1862.

Macaulay gave up medicine for literature and journalism. Settling in London, he joined the staff of the Literary Gazette in 1850. In 1858 he became editor of two weekly periodicals, The Leisure Hour (founded in 1852) and Sunday at Home (founded in 1864), and held the posts till 1895. Both papers had moral and religious aims, and a circulation among young readers. Macaulay's contributors to The Leisure Hour, who were usually anonymous, included at the outset Richard Whately, and later Frank Buckland, Canon George Rawlinson, and Arminius Vambery. Macaulay was also for many years general editor for the Religious Tract Society. The Boy's Own Paper and the Girl's Own Paper were founded in 1879 and edited under his direction.

Macaulay died at 41 Wynnstay Gardens, Kensington, on 18 June 1902.

Macaulay published An Essay on Cruelty to Animals (1839). He followed it up in later life with A Plea for Mercy to Animals (1875; new edit. 1889) and Vivisection: is it scientifically useful or morally justifiable? (1881).

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