English publishing firm founded by Thomas Longman (1699-1755). In August 1724 he purchased the stock and household goods of William Taylor, the first publisher of Robinson Crusoe, in Paternoster Row. Thomas Longman was one of the six booksellers who undertook the responsibility of Samuel Johnsons Dictionary.
In 1754 Thomas Longman took his nephew into partnership, forming T. and T. Longman. After his uncle's death in 1755, Thomas Longman (1730-1797) became sole proprietor. In 1794 Owen Rees became a partner, and Thomas Brown, who was for many years after 1811 a partner, entered the house as an apprentice. In 1804 two more partners were admitted; and in 1824 the title of the firm was changed to Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, Brown & Green.
Thomas Norton Longman died on the 29th of August 1842, leaving his two sons, Thomas (1804-1879) and William Longman (1813-1877), in control of the business in Paternoster Row. In 1890 they incorporated with their own all the publications of the old firm of Rivington to form Longmans, Green & Co.
Longman became public company in 1947. A Longman family member remained at the helm from 1724 until Mark Longman's death in 1972. In 1995 Addison-Wesley merged with Longman Publishing to create Addison Wesley Longman
