John Stuart Skinner was an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 lawyer, publisher, and editor.

Biography

Skinner began practicing law as an attorney at the age of twenty-one in 1809. On March 10, 1812, he married Elizabeth G. Davies, the step-daughter of Theodorick Bland. Also in 1812, President James Madison

James Madison

James Madison, Jr. was an American statesman and political theorist. He was the fourth President of the United States and is hailed as the “Father of the Constitution” for being the primary author of the United States Constitution and at first an opponent of, and then a key author of the United...

 made a special commission and selected Skinner to become a government agent to receive and forward the ocean mails, to furnish the vessels with necessary supplies, and to see that nothing transpired prejudicial to the interests of the republic or offensive to enemies thus admitted under the guardianship of a flag of truce.

Skinner soon obtained the duty of agent for prisoners-of-war. In 1813 Skinner was ordered to move his offices from Annapolis to Baltimore. He then accepted a purser's commission in the navy for the duration of the war.

On September 3, 1814, Skinner, as the prisoner-of-war exchange officer, was selected with Francis Scott Key

Francis Scott Key

Francis Scott Key was an American lawyer, author, and amateur poet, from Georgetown, who wrote the lyrics to the United States' national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner".-Life:...

 by President Madison for a mission to release Dr. William Beanes

William Beanes

William Beanes was a medical doctor in the American Colonial Period.-Early life:Beanes was the third generation of the same name and the fourth generation American. He was born near Croome in Prince George's County, Maryland. Little is known of his childhood except that he is of Scottish descent...

, who was being held prisoner by the British. Skinner and Key went on board General Ross’s ship on September 7th, the "Tonnant" that was anchored in the Chesapeake Bay. [Robert Ross being a general in the British Army would not have "had" a ship. The Tonnant was the flagship of the British Admiral in command, Alexander Cochran and it would have been he, not Ross who would have made the determination to release Beanes.] They were carrying a flag of truce and a letter authorized by President Madison setting out the case that Dr. Beanes should not have been arrested and taken prisoner because he had been an unarmed civilian when he previously arrested some British soldiers.

Skinner even had letters from these British soldiers that he presented to Ross praising the American doctors on how well the British soldiers were treated. This was an argument that Ross should release Dr. Beanes because of this excellent medical care. It is not known for sure if Dr. Beanes, being a medical doctor, was among those that treated the wounded British soldiers. Skinner with Key negotiated with Ross for nearly a week on board his ship and finally Ross agreed on the release of Dr. Beanes.

Upon the release of Beanes they were not allowed to return to Baltimore because of key information they had collected by being on board Ross’s ship from September 7 to the 13th. They were transferred from the "Tonnant" to another British warship called the "Surprise" and then to their own sloop. They were just allowed to watch the attack on Fort McHenry

Fort McHenry

Fort McHenry, in Baltimore, Maryland, is a star-shaped fort best known for its role in the War of 1812, when it successfully defended Baltimore Harbor from an attack by the British navy in Chesapeake Bay...

 from their own sloop, known as a cartel or truce boat, under British guard. The sloop was tethered to a British ship about eight miles (13 km) from Fort Mc Henry and guarded by a number of British marines to prevent any escape.

The morning of September 13 at seven o’clock the British bombardment of Baltimore began. The city was defended by Fort Mc Henry in the harbor.
Skinner, Key, and Beanes initially watched a huge American flag flying above Fort Mc Henry made by Mary Pickersgill as a representation of the American resolve to defend Baltimore. The bombarding of the American forces at Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore

Battle of Baltimore

The Battle of Baltimore was a combined sea/land battle fought between British and American forces in the War of 1812. It was one of the turning points of the war as American forces repulsed sea and land invasions of the busy port city of Baltimore, Maryland, and killed the commander of the invading...

 went into the night of September 13 with them not knowing how the battle was going.

When the smoke cleared on the morning of September 14, Key along with Skinner and Beanes were able to see the American flag still waving—Fort McHenry had not been taken by the British. On their way back to Baltimore, Key was inspired to write a poem that became the American national anthem, the "The Star Spangled Banner." It was Skinner whom Francis Scott Key first showed his work to and had it published.

Publications

Skinner established in 1819 "The American Farmer," the first agricultural journal in the United States to attain prominence. The first recognized agricultural periodical, however, was the Agricultural Museum

Agricultural Museum (periodical)

The Agricultural Museum was the first agricultural periodical magazine published in the United States, first printed July 4, 1810.- History :...

 that started publication in 1810.

Skinner's periodical was warmly accepted by Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...

, Andrew Jackson

Andrew Jackson

Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...

, and Timothy Pickering

Timothy Pickering

Timothy Pickering was a politician from Massachusetts who served in a variety of roles, most notably as the third United States Secretary of State, serving in that office from 1795 to 1800 under Presidents George Washington and John Adams.-Early years:Pickering was born in Salem, Massachusetts to...

. In 1829 Skinner published the first American Turf Register and Sporting Magazine. His devotion to this work inticed him to dispose of the American Farmer

American Farmer

American Farmer was a public affairs radio program featuring farm news and information of value to listeners in rural America.It was heard on the ABC radio network from 1945 to 1963, airing on Saturdays and heard in a variety of timeslots on different ABC affiliates throughout the day. One of the...

the same year. Skinner sold this magazine after publishing it successfully for ten years.

In 1845 Skinner began a new publication, the Farmer's Library and Monthly Journal of Agriculture. This was succeeded in 1848 by the Plough, the Loom, and the Anvil, which he published until his death. The periodicals that Skinner published gave a new stimulus to agricultural pursuits and added to the general popularity of outdoor sports.

Positions

Skinner was postmaster of Baltimore from 1816 until 1849.

Skinner served with Joshua Barney

Joshua Barney

Joshua Barney was a commodore in the United States Navy, born in Baltimore, Maryland, who served in the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812.-Revolutionary War:...

 and became known as "Maryland's Paul Revere."

Skinner was at one time chief of the agricultural bureau of the United States Patent and Trademark Office

United States Patent and Trademark Office

The United States Patent and Trademark Office is an agency in the United States Department of Commerce that issues patents to inventors and businesses for their inventions, and trademark registration for product and intellectual property identification.The USPTO is based in Alexandria, Virginia,...

.

In 1824 General Lafayette selected Skinner as agent to manage the 20000 acres (80.9 km²) grant of land that he had received by Congress.

Edited works

• "Guenon on Milch Cows" (1841)
• "Letter on Nautical Education" (1841)
• "Christmas Gift to Young Agriculturists" (Washington, 1841)
• "Youatt
  William Youatt
  William Youatt , was an English veterinary surgeon.Youatt was the son of a surgeon residing at Exeter. He was educated for the nonconformist ministry. In 1810 he left Devonshire, and undertook ministerial and scholastic duties in London...
  
  on the Horse" (1844)
• "Every Man his own Cattle Doctor" (1844)
• "The Dog and Sportsman" (1845)
• "Farmer's Library and Monthly Journal of Agriculture" (New York, 1846)
• "Elements of Agricultural Chemistry from the French"

Foreign works edited

• Alexander Petzhold's "Lectures on Agricultural Chemistry"
• Henry Stephens's "Book of the Farm"
• Albrecht Daniel Thur's "Principles of Agriculture"