A.P.Watt
Dublin Core
Title
A.P.Watt
Description
Dates: 1838 – 3 November 1914.
Occupation: Literary agent
Nationality: Scottish
Born in Glasgow, the son of a Free Church minister. Moved to London in 1871, working as a reader and later a partner for the publisher Alexander Strahan. Around 1875 he began managing the business affairs of his friend, the novelist George MacDonald, at first without charge, before recognising the commercial potential of representing authors formally in negotiations with publishers. By 1881 he had established himself professionally as a literary and advertising agent, founding A.P. Watt & Co. — generally regarded as the world's first literary agency. He set his commission at ten per cent, a rate that became the industry standard. Watt represented many of the leading authors of the day and did much to define the professional role and standing of the literary agent in Britain. Died Marylebone, London, 3 November 1914. The agency passed to his son and grandsons as A.P. Watt & Son, and survives today, merged into United Agents.
Connection to S.R. Crockett: Following Crockett's breakthrough with The Stickit Minister (1893), Watt took him on as a client and managed his professional and publishing affairs across dozens of works placed with British and American publishers and periodicals.
Occupation: Literary agent
Nationality: Scottish
Born in Glasgow, the son of a Free Church minister. Moved to London in 1871, working as a reader and later a partner for the publisher Alexander Strahan. Around 1875 he began managing the business affairs of his friend, the novelist George MacDonald, at first without charge, before recognising the commercial potential of representing authors formally in negotiations with publishers. By 1881 he had established himself professionally as a literary and advertising agent, founding A.P. Watt & Co. — generally regarded as the world's first literary agency. He set his commission at ten per cent, a rate that became the industry standard. Watt represented many of the leading authors of the day and did much to define the professional role and standing of the literary agent in Britain. Died Marylebone, London, 3 November 1914. The agency passed to his son and grandsons as A.P. Watt & Son, and survives today, merged into United Agents.
Connection to S.R. Crockett: Following Crockett's breakthrough with The Stickit Minister (1893), Watt took him on as a client and managed his professional and publishing affairs across dozens of works placed with British and American publishers and periodicals.
Files
Collection
Citation
“A.P.Watt,” S.R.Crockett Museum, accessed October 25, 2026, https://www.srcrockett.scot/themuseum/items/show/1470.