John Black (journalist)
Encyclopedia
John Black was a British
journalist
and newspaper editor.
, Black's father was Ebenezer Black, a farm worker and former peddler
who had married a co-worker on the farm, Janet Gray. Ebenezer Black died four years after they were married, leaving Janet to raise both a son and a daughter by herself. Within a decade, both Black's mother and sister had died as well. He was taken in by his uncle, also a worker on the farm, who sent him to the parish school at Duns
before articling
him out to a local writer. During this time, Black read extensively from the local subscription library
and began a book collection that would become a major preoccupation of his life.
After a brief period as a clerk for the British Linen Bank
, Black went to work for an accountant in Edinburgh
. In his spare time he attended classes at the University of Edinburgh
and he undertook such literary work as translating German for David Brewster
Edinburgh Encyclopaedia. During this time, he met William Mudford
, who became a close friend and important associate. When Mudford moved to London and became editor of Universal Magazine, Black contributed articles on Italian drama and German literature. In 1809 Black became engaged, but he subsequently broke it off, leading to a change in behavior that worried his friends and cost Black his job. Persuaded by Mudford to join him in London, Black traveled there with a letter of introduction to Robert Cromek
, who welcomed him into his home. Within three months of his arrival, Black found employment as a reporter and translator for James Perry
. In 1812 he married the mistress of a London friend; the union was short and loveless, and she plagued Black financially for years afterward.
. In 1817, a worsening illness led Perry to turn over the editorial duties to Black. As editor, Black maintained the paper's opposition to the Tory
government of the time, condemning its handling of the Peterloo Massacre
in 1819. Yet he came out against Queen Caroline
during her trial in 1820, a stance that precipitated a drop in the newspaper's circulation. Black remained as editor after the paper was purchased by William Innell Clement
in 1821, though the paper continued to decline especially as it faced growing competition from The Times
for whig subscribers.
When Clement sold the paper to Sir John Easthope
in 1834, the circulation was down to only 800 copies a day. Yet it soon rose to over 9,000, aided in part by the decision of The Times the following year to shift its political stance to support for Robert Peel
's administration, a move that led many subscribers to abandon it in favor of Black's pro-Whig paper. When Peel was succeeded by Lord Melbourne
, Black enlisted his pen in the service of the Whig government, writing numerous articles supporting its policies and attacking Peel. Among the reporters he employed during this period was a young Charles Dickens
, who later referred to Black as "my first hearty out-and-out appreciator".
lent him a cottage in Snodland
, where he spent the remaining years of his life gardening and studying the Greek language
. Black died at Birling, Kent
, in 1855.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and newspaper editor.
Early years
Born in BerwickshireBerwickshire
Berwickshire or the County of Berwick is a registration county, a committee area of the Scottish Borders Council, and a lieutenancy area of Scotland, on the border with England. The town after which it is named—Berwick-upon-Tweed—was lost by Scotland to England in 1482...
, Black's father was Ebenezer Black, a farm worker and former peddler
Peddler
A peddler, in British English pedlar, also known as a canvasser, cheapjack, monger, or solicitor , is a travelling vendor of goods. In England, the term was mostly used for travellers hawking goods in the countryside to small towns and villages; they might also be called tinkers or gypsies...
who had married a co-worker on the farm, Janet Gray. Ebenezer Black died four years after they were married, leaving Janet to raise both a son and a daughter by herself. Within a decade, both Black's mother and sister had died as well. He was taken in by his uncle, also a worker on the farm, who sent him to the parish school at Duns
Duns
Duns is the county town of the historic county of Berwickshire, within the Scottish Borders.-Early history:Duns law, the original site of the town of Duns, has the remains of an Iron Age hillfort at its summit...
before articling
Articled clerk
An articled clerk, also known as an articling student, is an apprentice in a professional firm in Commonwealth countries. Generally the term arises in the accountancy profession and in the legal profession. The articled clerk signs a contract, known as "articles of clerkship", committing to a...
him out to a local writer. During this time, Black read extensively from the local subscription library
Subscription library
A subscription library is a library that is financed by private funds either from membership fees or endowments...
and began a book collection that would become a major preoccupation of his life.
After a brief period as a clerk for the British Linen Bank
British Linen Bank
The British Linen Bank was a commercial bank based in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was acquired by the Bank of Scotland in 1969 and served as the Bank's merchant bank arm from 1977 until 1999.-Foundation:...
, Black went to work for an accountant in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. In his spare time he attended classes at the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
and he undertook such literary work as translating German for David Brewster
David Brewster
Sir David Brewster KH PRSE FRS FSA FSSA MICE was a Scottish physicist, mathematician, astronomer, inventor, writer and university principal.-Early life:...
Edinburgh Encyclopaedia. During this time, he met William Mudford
William Mudford
William Mudford , was a British writer, essayist, translator of literary works and journalist. He also wrote critical and philosophical essays and reviews. His 1829 novel The Five Nights of St. Albans: A Romance of the Sixteenth Century received a good review from John Gibson Lockhart, an...
, who became a close friend and important associate. When Mudford moved to London and became editor of Universal Magazine, Black contributed articles on Italian drama and German literature. In 1809 Black became engaged, but he subsequently broke it off, leading to a change in behavior that worried his friends and cost Black his job. Persuaded by Mudford to join him in London, Black traveled there with a letter of introduction to Robert Cromek
Robert Cromek
Robert Hartley Cromek was an engraver, editor, art dealer and entrepreneur who was most active in the early nineteenth century. He is best known for having allegedly cheated William Blake out of the potential profits of his engraving depicting Chaucer's Canterbury Pilgrims.In the early years of...
, who welcomed him into his home. Within three months of his arrival, Black found employment as a reporter and translator for James Perry
James Perry (journalist)
James Perry, born James Pirie was a British journalist and newspaper editor.Admitted to Marischal College, Aberdeen in 1771, he began studying for the Scottish bar. Forced to abandon his studies after his father's building business failed in 1774, he moved to London in 1777...
. In 1812 he married the mistress of a London friend; the union was short and loveless, and she plagued Black financially for years afterward.
Editor of the Morning Chronicle
Black was employed by Perry as a reporter for the Morning ChronicleMorning Chronicle
The Morning Chronicle was a newspaper founded in 1769 in London, England, and published under various owners until 1862. It was most notable for having been the first employer of Charles Dickens, and for publishing the articles by Henry Mayhew which were collected and published in book format in...
. In 1817, a worsening illness led Perry to turn over the editorial duties to Black. As editor, Black maintained the paper's opposition to the Tory
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
government of the time, condemning its handling of the Peterloo Massacre
Peterloo Massacre
The Peterloo Massacre occurred at St Peter's Field, Manchester, England, on 16 August 1819, when cavalry charged into a crowd of 60,000–80,000 that had gathered to demand the reform of parliamentary representation....
in 1819. Yet he came out against Queen Caroline
Caroline of Brunswick
Caroline of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel was the Queen consort of King George IV of the United Kingdom from 29 January 1820 until her death...
during her trial in 1820, a stance that precipitated a drop in the newspaper's circulation. Black remained as editor after the paper was purchased by William Innell Clement
William Innell Clement
William Innell Clement was an English newspaper proprietor.Though details of Clement's early years are unknown, it is likely that he was born in London. Starting as a newsagent at a young age, he soon became one of the leading vendors in London...
in 1821, though the paper continued to decline especially as it faced growing competition from The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
for whig subscribers.
When Clement sold the paper to Sir John Easthope
Sir John Easthope, 1st Baronet
Sir John Easthope, 1st Baronet MP was a politician and journalist.Easthope, born at Tewkesbury on 29 October 1784, was the eldest son of Thomas Easthope by Elizabeth, daughter of John Leaver of Overbury, Worcestershire....
in 1834, the circulation was down to only 800 copies a day. Yet it soon rose to over 9,000, aided in part by the decision of The Times the following year to shift its political stance to support for Robert Peel
Robert Peel
Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Baronet was a British Conservative statesman who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 10 December 1834 to 8 April 1835, and again from 30 August 1841 to 29 June 1846...
's administration, a move that led many subscribers to abandon it in favor of Black's pro-Whig paper. When Peel was succeeded by Lord Melbourne
William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne
William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, PC, FRS was a British Whig statesman who served as Home Secretary and Prime Minister . He is best known for his intense and successful mentoring of Queen Victoria, at ages 18-21, in the ways of politics...
, Black enlisted his pen in the service of the Whig government, writing numerous articles supporting its policies and attacking Peel. Among the reporters he employed during this period was a young Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
, who later referred to Black as "my first hearty out-and-out appreciator".
Retirement
By 1843, Black's energy was failing him, and Easthope sought to replace him with his son-in-law Andrew Doyle, the Chronicles foreign editor. Lacking any retirement savings, Black was forced to part with his library of 30,000 books, which he had lovingly and painstakingly accumulated over the years. Its sale, along with the additional efforts of his friends and a contribution by Easthope, provided an annuity of £150. His friend Walter CoulsonWalter Coulson
Walter Coulson was a newspaper editor, barrister and an associate of Jeremy Bentham. He served as Parliamentary reporter on the Morning Chronicle and was the editor of the evening paper The Traveler. He was a Commissioner on the Royal Commission that led to the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834. His...
lent him a cottage in Snodland
Snodland
Snodland is a small town in the county of Kent, England, located on the River Medway between Rochester and Maidstone. It has a population of about 12,000 people....
, where he spent the remaining years of his life gardening and studying the Greek language
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
. Black died at Birling, Kent
Birling, Kent
Birling is a village and civil parish in the Tonbridge and Malling district of Kent, England, about seven miles west of Maidstone. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 430....
, in 1855.