James Bagnall
Encyclopedia
James Bagnall was a printer, publisher and politician in Prince Edward Island
.
Born in Shelburne
, Nova Scotia
, he was the son of United Empire Loyalists
from New York
. His family settled in Charlottetown
, Prince Edward Island
around 1787.
Bagnall received a limited education on the island but apprenticed with his brother-in-law, a printer, who left Prince Edward Island for the United States. There, Bagnall received experience on two newspapers that his brother-in-law published.
He returned to Prince Edward Island in 1804 with a printing press and was appointed King’s Printer by the Lieutenant Governor, Edmund Fanning
. The newspaper business was unprofitable but better arrangements were made for government printing with Joseph Frederick Wallet DesBarres
, the new Lieutenant Governor.
Bagnall made a successful entry into colonial politics with his election to the General Assembly in 1808. However, the economics of the printing business in such a small center made him leave briefly for Nova Scotia
where he had limited success with two newspapers.
Bagnall returned to Prince Edward Island in 1810 and, from that point onward, struggled to keep his printing business viable. He also returned to politics with some success but his main accomplishments were as a printer. By that endeavour, he ensured that the colony was kept informed through his printed material.
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
.
Born in Shelburne
Shelburne, Nova Scotia
Shelburne is a town located in southwestern Nova Scotia, Canada. It is the shire town of Shelburne County.-History:-Settlers:...
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, he was the son of United Empire Loyalists
United Empire Loyalists
The name United Empire Loyalists is an honorific given after the fact to those American Loyalists who resettled in British North America and other British Colonies as an act of fealty to King George III after the British defeat in the American Revolutionary War and prior to the Treaty of Paris...
from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. His family settled in Charlottetown
Charlottetown
Charlottetown is a Canadian city. It is both the largest city on and the provincial capital of Prince Edward Island, and the county seat of Queens County. Named after Queen Charlotte, the wife of George III, Charlottetown was first incorporated as a town in 1855 and designated as a city in 1885...
, Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
around 1787.
Bagnall received a limited education on the island but apprenticed with his brother-in-law, a printer, who left Prince Edward Island for the United States. There, Bagnall received experience on two newspapers that his brother-in-law published.
He returned to Prince Edward Island in 1804 with a printing press and was appointed King’s Printer by the Lieutenant Governor, Edmund Fanning
Edmund Fanning (colonial administrator)
Edmund Fanning first gained fame for his role in the War of the Regulation, but later had a distinguished career as a colonial governor and British general.right| Sketch of Edmund Fanning...
. The newspaper business was unprofitable but better arrangements were made for government printing with Joseph Frederick Wallet DesBarres
Joseph Frederick Wallet DesBarres
Colonel Joseph Frederick Wallet DesBarres Colonel Joseph Frederick Wallet DesBarres Colonel Joseph Frederick Wallet DesBarres (November 22, 1721 – October 27, 1824 (or October 24, 1824 ) was a Swiss-born cartographer and Canadian statesman, who served as aide-de-camp to General James Wolfe...
, the new Lieutenant Governor.
Bagnall made a successful entry into colonial politics with his election to the General Assembly in 1808. However, the economics of the printing business in such a small center made him leave briefly for Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
where he had limited success with two newspapers.
Bagnall returned to Prince Edward Island in 1810 and, from that point onward, struggled to keep his printing business viable. He also returned to politics with some success but his main accomplishments were as a printer. By that endeavour, he ensured that the colony was kept informed through his printed material.