Andrew Bradford (1686 – November 24, 1742) was an early American printer in colonial Philadelphia. He published the first newspaper in Philadelphia, The American Weekly Mercury, beginning in 1719, as well as the first magazine in America in 1741.[1][2]
He was the son of a printer, and grandson of two others. He was born to William and Elizabeth Sowle Bradford in Philadelphia. In 1692, the family moved to New York, and there he learned the printing trade from his father. In 1709, Andrew Bradford was listed as a printer in New York; that year, he declined an offer from Rhode Island to become that colony's printer.[1]
He returned to Philadelphia in 1712 and opened his own print shop. On December 22, 1719, he began publication of The American Weekly Mercury. This was the first newspaper in Philadelphia and enjoyed a wide circulation. He also taught the print business to his nephew William Bradford and for a time employed Benjamin Franklin when Franklin first came to Philadelphia, introduced by Bradford's father William.[4] Franklin would go on to establish a rival printing press and newspaper, the Pennsylvania Gazette, in Philadelphia. On February 13, 1741, Bradford published the first issue of the American Magazine, the first magazine to be published in America — beating out Franklin for the honor by three days.[2]
Throughout the 1720s, Bradford published political pamphlets critical of the local government, denouncing its "sinking credit" and supporting freedom of the press. He also published "Busy-Body" essays, criticisms of the colonial government penned by Franklin and Joseph Breintnall, in the Mercury. For these political actions, Bradford was brought before a council, censured several times, and jailed once.[1]
The American Weekly Mercury, January 22, 1740
Bradford's first wife was Dorcas Boels, who died in 1739. Bradford then married Cornelia Smith, who took over his print shop and newspaper upon his death in 1742.[5]
Citationsedit
^ abcCraig, Raymond A. (2010). "Andrew Bradford". American National Biography. Oxford University Press / American National Biography.
^ abMott, Frank Luther (1970). A History of American Magazines (Nachdr. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard Univ. Press. p. 71. ISBN9780674395503.
^Steven J. Shaw. Colonial Newspaper Advertising: A Step toward Freedom of the Press. The Business History Review, Vol. 33, No. 3 (Autumn, 1959), pp. 409-420
^Calhoun Winton (2004). "Bradford, William (1663–1752)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press.
^De Armond, Anna Janney (1971). "BRADFORD, Cornelia Smith.". Notable American Women, A Biographical Dictionary: 1607-1950 (Vol.1-3). Cambridge: Harvard University Press. pp. 219–220. ISBN9780674627345.
Jones, Horatio G. (1869). An address delivered at the annual meeting of the Historical society of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia, King & Baird, printers. p. 25.
Thomas, Isaiah (1810). The history of printing in America. OL 25399626M.
The Bradford Family Papers (1620-1906), held at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania
External linksedit
Media related to Andrew Bradford at Wikimedia Commons
April 09, 2024
andrew, bradford, 1686, november, 1742, early, american, printer, colonial, philadelphia, published, first, newspaper, philadelphia, american, weekly, mercury, beginning, 1719, well, first, magazine, america, 1741, american, weekly, mercury, 1719, contents, li. Andrew Bradford 1686 November 24 1742 was an early American printer in colonial Philadelphia He published the first newspaper in Philadelphia The American Weekly Mercury beginning in 1719 as well as the first magazine in America in 1741 1 2 American Weekly Mercury 1719 3 Contents 1 Life and career 2 Citations 2 1 Bibliography 3 External linksLife and career editHe was the son of a printer and grandson of two others He was born to William and Elizabeth Sowle Bradford in Philadelphia In 1692 the family moved to New York and there he learned the printing trade from his father In 1709 Andrew Bradford was listed as a printer in New York that year he declined an offer from Rhode Island to become that colony s printer 1 He returned to Philadelphia in 1712 and opened his own print shop On December 22 1719 he began publication of The American Weekly Mercury This was the first newspaper in Philadelphia and enjoyed a wide circulation He also taught the print business to his nephew William Bradford and for a time employed Benjamin Franklin when Franklin first came to Philadelphia introduced by Bradford s father William 4 Franklin would go on to establish a rival printing press and newspaper the Pennsylvania Gazette in Philadelphia On February 13 1741 Bradford published the first issue of the American Magazine the first magazine to be published in America beating out Franklin for the honor by three days 2 Throughout the 1720s Bradford published political pamphlets critical of the local government denouncing its sinking credit and supporting freedom of the press He also published Busy Body essays criticisms of the colonial government penned by Franklin and Joseph Breintnall in the Mercury For these political actions Bradford was brought before a council censured several times and jailed once 1 nbsp The American Weekly Mercury January 22 1740Bradford s first wife was Dorcas Boels who died in 1739 Bradford then married Cornelia Smith who took over his print shop and newspaper upon his death in 1742 5 Citations edit a b c Craig Raymond A 2010 Andrew Bradford American National Biography Oxford University Press American National Biography a b Mott Frank Luther 1970 A History of American Magazines Nachdr ed Cambridge Massachusetts Harvard Univ Press p 71 ISBN 9780674395503 Steven J Shaw Colonial Newspaper Advertising A Step toward Freedom of the Press The Business History Review Vol 33 No 3 Autumn 1959 pp 409 420 Calhoun Winton 2004 Bradford William 1663 1752 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford University Press De Armond Anna Janney 1971 BRADFORD Cornelia Smith Notable American Women A Biographical Dictionary 1607 1950 Vol 1 3 Cambridge Harvard University Press pp 219 220 ISBN 9780674627345 Bibliography edit Further information Bibliography of early American publishers and printers Jones Horatio G 1869 An address delivered at the annual meeting of the Historical society of Pennsylvania Philadelphia King amp Baird printers p 25 Thomas Isaiah 1810 The history of printing in America OL 25399626M The Bradford Family Papers 1620 1906 held at the Historical Society of PennsylvaniaExternal links edit nbsp Media related to Andrew Bradford at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Andrew Bradford amp oldid 1192708725, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
