Lewis Doxat
Encyclopedia
Lewis Doxat was an English
newspaper editor.
. In 1804 he started an association with The Observer
, and rose to become its editor three years later. He would serve as the editor of the Sunday weekly for the next fifty years. As editor, Doxat played more of a managerial role than a journalistic one, and proudly claimed that he never penned "an article on any subject under any circumstances whatsoever." During his time, he introduced new typography and pioneered the use of woodcuts to illustrate articles. Such innovations ensured the commercial success of the newspaper, though not without controversy as some felt that the use of woodcuts to illustrate their coverage of the Radlett murder
as exceeding the bounds of propriety. The paper also got into trouble with the crown when it defied a government ban on reporting proceedings against the Cato Street conspirators
who planned to kill off members of parliament.
When the owner of The Observer
, William Innell Clement
, purchased the Morning Chronicle in 1821, he installed Doxat as the newspaper's manager. Doxat served in both positions simultaneously for the next thirteen years, returning exclusively to his duties with The Observer when Clement sold the Morning Chronicle in 1834. Doxat continued to edit The Observer, which developed a reputation during this time for its exclusive information about contemporary politics, until his retirement in 1857.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
newspaper editor.
Biography
Born in India, Doxat came to England as a young boy. He settled in London, where he found work with 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 1804 he started an association with The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
, and rose to become its editor three years later. He would serve as the editor of the Sunday weekly for the next fifty years. As editor, Doxat played more of a managerial role than a journalistic one, and proudly claimed that he never penned "an article on any subject under any circumstances whatsoever." During his time, he introduced new typography and pioneered the use of woodcuts to illustrate articles. Such innovations ensured the commercial success of the newspaper, though not without controversy as some felt that the use of woodcuts to illustrate their coverage of the Radlett murder
Radlett murder
The Radlett murder, also known as the Elstree murder, was a murder in Radlett, Hertfordshire, England, in 1823. The victim, William Weare, was killed in Radlett and the body disposed of in a pond in Elstree. It gained a great deal of attention and was the subject of numerous books and stage plays...
as exceeding the bounds of propriety. The paper also got into trouble with the crown when it defied a government ban on reporting proceedings against the Cato Street conspirators
Cato Street Conspiracy
The Cato Street Conspiracy was an attempt to murder all the British cabinet ministers and Prime Minister Lord Liverpool in 1820. The name comes from the meeting place near Edgware Road in London. The Cato Street Conspiracy is notable due to dissenting public opinions regarding the punishment of the...
who planned to kill off members of parliament.
When the owner of The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
, 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...
, purchased the Morning Chronicle in 1821, he installed Doxat as the newspaper's manager. Doxat served in both positions simultaneously for the next thirteen years, returning exclusively to his duties with The Observer when Clement sold the Morning Chronicle in 1834. Doxat continued to edit The Observer, which developed a reputation during this time for its exclusive information about contemporary politics, until his retirement in 1857.