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Scottish
American Journalists
The
first newspaper printed in North America, The Boston News-Letter
for April 24, 1704, was published by a Scot, John Campbell (1653-1728),
bookseller and postmaster of Boston. John Mein and John Fleming,
the founders and publishers of The Boston Chronicle (1767) were
both born in Scotland. The paper was printed "on a new
and handsome type, a broad faced long primer, from an Edinburgh
foundry, and typographically far surpassed any paper that had
appeared before it in New England." David Hall (c. 1714-1772),
born in Edinburgh, emigrated to America shortly after 1740,
became a partner of Benjamin Franklin in 1748. He was printer
of the Pennsylvania Gazette, one of the few leading newspapers
of the day, and one of the founders of the St. Andrew's Society
of Philadelphia. His son, William (died 1831), who carried on
the printing business, was one of the original members of the
"Light Horse of the City of Philadelphia," afterwards
known as "The First City Troop," and served in the
Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. Robert Aitken
(1734-1802), born in Dalkeith, Scotland, printer and publisher
in Philadelphia in 1769, was publisher of the Pennsylvania Magazine
from January 1775 to June 1776, the first magazine in Philadelphia
containing illustrations, most of which were engraved by Aitken
himself. He also published, at his own expense, in 1782, the
first English Bible printed in America. Major Andrew Brown (c.
1744-1797), born in the north of Ireland of Scottish parents,
was publisher of the Federal Gazette, later (1793) changed to
Philadelphia Gazette. He is credited with being the first newspaper
man to employ a reporter for the debates in Congress. It may
here be mentioned that the publisher of the first directory
of Philadelphia and its suburbs (1782), was a Scot, Captain
John Macpherson (1726-92). James Adams, Delaware's first printer
(1761), was an Ulster Scot who learned the art of printing in
Londonderry and founded the Wilmington Courant in 1762. Col.
Eleazer Oswald (1755-1795), of Scottish origin, though born
in England, rendered brilliant service on the side of the colonies
during the Revolution. In 1779 he became associated with William
Goddard in the Maryland Journal, the first newspaper printed
in Baltimore. Later removing to Philadelphia he issued the first
number of the Independent Gazetteer, or the Chronicle of Freedom,
April 13, 1782, and at the same time he also conducted in New
York The Independent Gazetteer, or New York Journal (1782-87).
The first daily paper published in Baltimore (1791) was by David
Graham. Alexander Purdie, a native of Scotland, was editor of
the Virginia Gazette from March 1766 to December 1774. Shortly
after this date he started a Gazette of his own, and in the
issue of his paper for June 7, 1776, he printed the heraldic
device of a shield, on which is a rattlesnake coiled, with supporters,
dexter, a bear collared and chained, sinister, a stag. The crest
is a woman's head crowned and the motto: Don't tread on me.
Adam Boyd (1738-1803), colonial printer and preacher, purchased
the printing outfit of another Scot, Andrew Stuart, who had
set up the first printing press in Wilmington, North Carolina,
in 1763. In 1769 (Oct. 13) Boyd issued the first number of the
Cape Fear Mercury, and continued it till 1776. James Johnston,
born in Scotland, was the first to establish a printing press
in Georgia (1762) and in April, 1763, began publication of The
Georgia Gazette, which was published by him for twenty-seven
years. His successor (1793) was another Scot, Alexander M'Millan,
"Printer to the State." Robert Wells (1728-94), born
in Scotland, was a publisher and bookseller in South Carolina
for many years, and published the South Carolina and American
General Gazette. John Wells, Florida's first printer (1784),
born in Charleston, served his apprenticeship at Donaldson's
printing house in Edinburgh. Matthew Duncan, son of Major Joseph
Duncan, of Scottish ancestry, introduced printing into Illinois
in 1809, and published the first newspaper there. Major Nathaniel
McLean, brother of John McLean, one of the Justices of the Supreme
Court of the United States, was one of the first publishers
in Minnesota (1849, the same year in which printing was introduced
into the state). The township of McLean, Ramsey county, was
named in honor of him. There is mention of a printing press
being set up in Michigan in 1785 by Alexander and William Macomb,
but nothing further is known of it. The first book printed in
Montana was in 1864, and in August of the same year John Buchanan
founded the Montana Post at Virginia City. John Dunlap (1747-1812),
an Ulster Scot born in Strabane, was Congressional Printer and
first printed the Declaration of Independence.
Thomas Ritchie
(1778-1854), born of Scottish parentage. He wielded a powerful
influence for good in both the national and state politics of
Virginia, and his funeral was attended by nearly all the distinguished
men of the times, including the President. Ritchie County, West
Virginia, was named in his honor. Francis Preston Blair (1791-1876),
political writer, negotiator of peace conference at Hampton
Roads in 1864, and editor of the Washington Globe, was a descendant
of Commissary Blair of Virginia. James Gordon Bennett (1795-1872),
born near Keith, Banffshire, pioneer of modern American journalism
and founder of the New York Herald, a newspaper which has long
wielded a great influence on political affairs. Horace Greeley
(1811-72), founder of the New York Tribune, unsuccessful candidate
for the Presidency in 1872, anti-slavery leader, and author
of "The American Conflict" (1864-66), was of Ulster
Scot descent. Of the same origin was Joseph Medill (1823-99),
proprietor of the Chicago Tribune (1874); and Robert Bonner
(1824-99), founder of the New York Ledger (1851), was born in
Londonderry of Ulster Scot origin. James Thompson Callender
(d. 1806), a political exile from Scotland, a controversial
writer of great power, a severe critic of the administration
of John Adams, founded the Richmond Recorder, predecessor of
the Richmond Enquirer. John Swinton (1829-1901), born in Haddingtonshire,
was editorial writer for the New York Times (1860-70), and Sun
(1875-83, 1893-97). He took an active interest in social and
industrial questions and was Progressive Labor Party's candidate
for State Senator in 1887. James Redpath (1833-91), journalist
and author, born in Berwick-on-Tweed, was prominently identified
with the abolition movement, was organizer of the school system
of South Carolina, founder of the Boston Lyceum Bureau, war
correspondent for Northern newspapers during the Civil War,
and author of several histories and biographical works. William
Andrew Ure (b. 1839), of Scottish parentage, by his energy made
the Newark, New Jersey, Sunday Call, one of the leading newspapers
in the state. Whitelaw Reid is noted under Ambassadors. St.
Clair McKelway (b. 1845), who became Regent and Vice-Chancellor
of the University of the State of New York, was of Scots parentage.
Andrew McLean, born in Renton, Dumbartonshire, in 1848, is editor-in-chief
of the Brooklyn Citizen, which under his guidance has become
an influential paper. Washington McLean and his son, John R.
McLean, established one of the greatest newspapers in the Middle
West, the Cincinnati Enquirer. David Alexander Munro (1848-1910),
a native of Maryburgh, Ross-shire, educated at Edinburgh University,
editor for many years of the North American Review. John Foord,
born in Perthshire, came to the U.S. in 1869; became editorial
writer on the New York Times and later editor-in-chief; after
1883, editor and publisher of the Brooklyn Union; editor of
Harper's Weekly; leader writer on Journal of Commerce, and editor
of Asia. Other journalists who may be mentioned are William
Cauldwell (b. 1824) of New York, of Scottish parentage on both
sides; George Dawson (1813-83) of Albany, born in Falkirk, Scotland;
William Wiston Seaton (1785-1866) of Washington, D.C., a Regent
of the Smithsonian Institution; and George Horace Lorimer (b.
1867), journalist and author of "Letters from a Self-made
Merchant to His Son" (1902), etc. John J. McElhone (1832-90),
famous as a stenographer and chief Official Reporter of the
House of Representatives, was of Scottish ancestry.
Thomas Dobson,
publisher of the first American edition of the Encyclopaedia
Britannica (1791), was a Scot who gave a great impulse to printing
in the United States. Robert Carter (1807-89), publisher and
founder of the house of Robert Carter and Brothers, so long
and honorably known in New York city, was born in Earlston,
Berwickshire. Henry Ivison (1808-84), born in Glasgow, became
a prominent publisher in New York. His son, David Brinkerhoff
Ivison, born in 1835, was also a prominent publisher and founder
of the American Book Company. John Wilson (1802-68), born in
Glasgow, was founder of the famous printing firm of John Wilson
and Son of Cambridge, Massachusetts, now Harvard University
Press. George Munro (1825-96), publisher of the Seaside Library,
Fireside Companion, etc., was of Scottish descent. In the course
of his life he gave away half a million dollars for educational
purposes. Whatever may be thought of his appropriating the works
of British authors without compensation it cannot be denied
that he did a great deal to raise the literary taste among the
poorer classes in this country. George William Quids (1829-94),
publisher and proprietor of the Philadelphia Public Ledger,
was of Scottish descent. Robert Clarke (1829-99), founded of
the great Cincinnati publishing house of Robert Clarke and Co.,
was born in the town of Annan in Dumfriesshire. Norman Leslie
Munro (1842-94), publisher of the Family Story Paper and founder
of Munro's Publishing House, was born in Nova Scotia of Scottish
ancestry.
John Baine,
born in St. Andrews, in partnership with his grandson, established
the first type-foundry in Philadelphia in 1787. Their firm cast
the types for a portion of the American edition of the Encyclopaedia
Britannica, reprinted in Philadelphia in 1791. Archibald Binny,
(1763-1838), born in Portobello, near Edinburgh, and James Ronaldson
(d. 1841), also born in Scotland, succeeded to and carried on
the business established by Baine. In 1797 they cast the first
$ sign used in this country. The quality and art of their product
was in no wise inferior to the European and the sale of foreign
made types ceased shortly after they established their business.
Their foundry kept pace with the growth of the country and in
the seventies of last century became the best and most extensive
letter-foundry in the world. Archibald Binny loaned the United
States Government the sum of 50,000 dollars for use in the war
of 1812-14. Ronaldson was first president of the Franklin Institute
in Philadelphia (1824-41), an institution in which he took a
great interest, and in 1831 presented to Philadelphia the beautiful
cemetery bearing his name. He was described as "an upright,
frugal and honest man, and a lover of his adopted country."
George Bruce (1781-1866), born in Edinburgh, along with his
brother David introduced the art of stereotyping, the secret
of which David secured in Edinburgh. In 1816 they purchased
a foundry for type making and stereotyping, and George Bruce
in his seventy-eighth year of age produced type which has rarely
been excelled for beauty of design and neatness of finish. "He
did much toward facilitating American printing and towards making
it a fine art, inventing, with the assistance of his nephew,
David Bruce, Jr., a successful type-casting machine which has
come into general use." Thomas Mackellar (1812-1899), printer
and poet, also one of the leading type founders, was of Scottish
parentage. William Vincent McKean, born in 1820 of Ulster Scot
descent, was another distinguished type-founder and editor-in-chief
of the Philadelphia Public Ledger for many years. Another individual
who may be included under this head is Adam Ramage who was born
in Scotland and died at an advanced age in Philadelphia in 1850.
He was distinguished as a manufacturer of printing presses in
the beginning of last century, and patented the "Ramage"
press in 1818.
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