Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Tipper, John
TIPPER, JOHN (d. 1713), almanac-maker, was born at Coventry. In 1699 he was elected master of Bablake school in that city in the place of Richard Butler. In 1704 he commenced an almanac and a serial collection of mathematical papers, under the title of ‘The Ladies' Diary,’ which he continued to edit until his death. Six letters from Tipper to Humphrey Wanley [q .v.], relating to the inception of the ‘Diary,’ are in Ellis's ‘Letters of Eminent Literary Men’ (Camden Soc. pp. 304–15). It was carried on until 1840, when it was united with the ‘Gentleman's Diary,’ under the title ‘The Lady's and Gentleman's Diary,’ and continued to appear until 1871. In 1710 he also founded ‘Great Britain's Diary,’ which continued to be issued until 1728. Tipper was a mathematician of considerable ability, and to the ordinary contents of astrological almanacs he added several mathematical problems of a difficult nature which his readers were invited to solve. Among those who exercised their ingenuity in attempting these was Thomas Simpson [q. v.], the well-known mathematician. In 1711 Tipper started ‘Delights for the Ingenious,’ a monthly magazine treating of mathematical questions and enigmas, and more or less popular in its character. It did not, however, survive the year. Tipper died in 1713.
[Colvile's Worthies of Warwickshire, p. 756; Catalogue of British Museum Library.]