It was founded by the publisher Henry Colburn, who appointed the journalist and contributor William Jerdan as editor in July 1817.
Jerdan wrote most of the articles and set the character of the magazine, and then became a shareholder and eventually the owner.
[1] The format of the magazine was always essentially the same, each issue consisting of about sixteen pages typeset in three columns.
Feature sections included "Original Correspondence" and a social column as well as notice of theatre productions.
The magazine also occasionally featured news of subjects of interest such as archaeological discoveries, inventions, art exhibitions,[1] architecture and the sciences.