James Humphreys (printer)
Encyclopedia
James Humphreys was a printer, publisher, merchant and politician in Nova Scotia
and Pennsylvania
. He represented Shelburne County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
from 1793 to 1796.
He was born in Philadelphia, the son of James Humphreys and Susanna Assheton. He studied medicine at the College of Philadelphia
but left without completing his degree. Humphreys then apprenticed as a printer with William Bradford and established his own business in 1772, printing books and a number of pamphlets. In 1775, he began publishing the Pennsylvania Ledger: or the Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, & New Jersey Weekly Advertiser, a newspaper loyal to the British cause. In 1776, he fled the city but returned in 1777 when the British regained control of Philadelphia. He went to New York City
in 1778 when the British left the city and by 1785 had moved to Shelburne, Nova Scotia
where he established the Nova-Scotia Packet: and General Advertiser. He also operated as a merchant and was a justice of the peace
. Humphreys married Mary Yorke. By 1797, he had returned to Philadelphia and, after failing to establish another newspaper there, resumed book printing in partnership with some of his sons and daughters. Humphreys published an 1802 edition of Lyrical Ballads
by William Wordsworth
and Samuel Taylor Coleridge
. He died in Philadelphia and was buried in the cemetery of Christ Church
.
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...
and Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. He represented Shelburne County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
Nova Scotia House of Assembly
The Nova Scotia Legislature, consisting of Her Majesty The Queen represented by the Lieutenant Governor and the House of Assembly, is the legislative branch of the provincial government of Nova Scotia, Canada...
from 1793 to 1796.
He was born in Philadelphia, the son of James Humphreys and Susanna Assheton. He studied medicine at the College of Philadelphia
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
but left without completing his degree. Humphreys then apprenticed as a printer with William Bradford and established his own business in 1772, printing books and a number of pamphlets. In 1775, he began publishing the Pennsylvania Ledger: or the Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, & New Jersey Weekly Advertiser, a newspaper loyal to the British cause. In 1776, he fled the city but returned in 1777 when the British regained control of Philadelphia. He went to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1778 when the British left the city and by 1785 had moved to Shelburne, Nova Scotia
Shelburne, Nova Scotia
Shelburne is a town located in southwestern Nova Scotia, Canada. It is the shire town of Shelburne County.-History:-Settlers:...
where he established the Nova-Scotia Packet: and General Advertiser. He also operated as a merchant and was a justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
. Humphreys married Mary Yorke. By 1797, he had returned to Philadelphia and, after failing to establish another newspaper there, resumed book printing in partnership with some of his sons and daughters. Humphreys published an 1802 edition of Lyrical Ballads
Lyrical Ballads
Lyrical Ballads, with a Few Other Poems is a collection of poems by William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge, first published in 1798 and generally considered to have marked the beginning of the English Romantic movement in literature...
by William Wordsworth
William Wordsworth
William Wordsworth was a major English Romantic poet who, with Samuel Taylor Coleridge, helped to launch the Romantic Age in English literature with the 1798 joint publication Lyrical Ballads....
and Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Samuel Taylor Coleridge was an English poet, Romantic, literary critic and philosopher who, with his friend William Wordsworth, was a founder of the Romantic Movement in England and a member of the Lake Poets. He is probably best known for his poems The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Kubla...
. He died in Philadelphia and was buried in the cemetery of Christ Church
Christ Church, Philadelphia
Christ Church is an Episcopal church located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1695 by members of the Church of England, who built a small wooden church on the site by the next year. When the congregation outgrew this structure some twenty years later, they decided to erect a new...
.