Frederick Pitman

Life & Legacy

Frederick Pitman (9 May 1828 – 21 November 1886) was an English publisher, writer, and educator. A younger brother of Isaac Pitman, the inventor of Pitman shorthand, he helped publish and promote shorthand literature and education in the mid-19th century. He established a London publishing firm that became the principal outlet for Isaac Pitman's shorthand works and related periodicals. In 1862, he founded a music publishing business that specialised in domestic and popular compositions, including works by Michael William Balfe. Pitman also published vegetarian literature and edited several journals devoted to shorthand. He was a member of the Royal Society of Arts, served as its first shorthand examiner, and supported spelling reform.