Born on 6 July 1743, he was the son of John Newbery, the publisher of St. Paul's Churchyard; alone of his brothers, he survived his father.
Four years afterward he migrated to Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, but he took no degree from either university.
In 1779, he transferred the patent-medicine part of the business to the northeast corner of St. Paul's Churchyard, leaving the book publishing at the old spot.
[1] Oliver Goldsmith died after overdosing on "James's fever powder", the patent of which belonged to Newbery.
John Wall Callcott, a good friend, set as a glee Hail all the dear delights of home, a poem by Newbery.