Morning Chronicle
Encyclopedia
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 1861 as "London Labour and the London Poor
".
as a regular feature. Since note-taking was prohibited, he worked from memory, at least to the extent of writing notes outside the chamber. Woodfall's journalism slanted toward the Whig
party in the House of Commons
.
Newspapers of the time were subject to persecution by the government, and in typical fashion Woodfall was convicted of libel and spent a year in Newgate prison
in 1779. This fate befell some of his successors as well.
in 1789, bringing the journal firmly down on the Whig side against the Tory
-owned London Gazette
. Circulation increased, and by 1810, the typical sale was 7,000 copies. The content often came from journalists labelled as radicals
, a dangerous connotation in the aftermath of the French Revolution
. William Hazlitt
joined to report on Parliament in 1813, by which time several charges of libel and seditious libel
had been levelled against the newspaper and its contributors at one time or another, Perry being sentenced to three months in gaol in 1798.
Perry was succeeded by John Black
, probably in 1817 when Perry developed a severe illness. It was Black who later employed Dickens, Mayhew, and John Stuart Mill
. Perry died in 1821. Woodfall had died in 1803.
Charles Dickens
began reporting for the Chronicle in 1834. It was in this medium that he also began publishing short stories under the pseudonym
"Boz".
The articles by Henry Mayhew
were published in 1849, accompanied by similar articles about other regions of the country, written by other journalists.
The Morning Chronicle was suspended with the 21 December 1862 issue and resumed with the 9 January 1864 issue. Then it was suspended again with the 10 January 1864 issue and again resumed with the 2 March 1865 issue.British Newspaper
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...
, and for publishing the articles by Henry Mayhew
Henry Mayhew
Henry Mayhew was an English social researcher, journalist, playwright and advocate of reform. He was one of the two founders of the satirical and humorous magazine Punch, and the magazine's joint-editor, with Mark Lemon, in its early days...
which were collected and published in book format in 1861 as "London Labour and the London Poor
London Labour and the London Poor
London Labour and the London Poor is a work of Victorian journalism by Henry Mayhew. In the 1840s he observed, documented and described the state of working people in London for a series of articles in a newspaper, the Morning Chronicle, that were later compiled into book form.-Overview:The...
".
Founding
The first editor was William Woodfall. He was the first to report on proceedings in ParliamentParliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
as a regular feature. Since note-taking was prohibited, he worked from memory, at least to the extent of writing notes outside the chamber. Woodfall's journalism slanted toward the Whig
British Whig Party
The Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s. The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule...
party in the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
.
Newspapers of the time were subject to persecution by the government, and in typical fashion Woodfall was convicted of libel and spent a year in Newgate prison
Newgate Prison
Newgate Prison was a prison in London, at the corner of Newgate Street and Old Bailey just inside the City of London. It was originally located at the site of a gate in the Roman London Wall. The gate/prison was rebuilt in the 12th century, and demolished in 1777...
in 1779. This fate befell some of his successors as well.
Later owners
The Chronicle was bought by James PerryJames 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 1789, bringing the journal firmly down on the Whig side against the Tory
Tory
Toryism is a traditionalist and conservative political philosophy which grew out of the Cavalier faction in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It is a prominent ideology in the politics of the United Kingdom, but also features in parts of The Commonwealth, particularly in Canada...
-owned London Gazette
London Gazette
The London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published...
. Circulation increased, and by 1810, the typical sale was 7,000 copies. The content often came from journalists labelled as radicals
Radicalism (historical)
The term Radical was used during the late 18th century for proponents of the Radical Movement. It later became a general pejorative term for those favoring or seeking political reforms which include dramatic changes to the social order...
, a dangerous connotation in the aftermath of the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
. William Hazlitt
William Hazlitt
William Hazlitt was an English writer, remembered for his humanistic essays and literary criticism, and as a grammarian and philosopher. He is now considered one of the great critics and essayists of the English language, placed in the company of Samuel Johnson and George Orwell. Yet his work is...
joined to report on Parliament in 1813, by which time several charges of libel and seditious libel
Seditious libel
Seditious libel was a criminal offence under English common law. Sedition is the offence of speaking seditious words with seditious intent: if the statement is in writing or some other permanent form it is seditious libel...
had been levelled against the newspaper and its contributors at one time or another, Perry being sentenced to three months in gaol in 1798.
Perry was succeeded by John Black
John Black (journalist)
John Black was a British journalist and newspaper editor.-Early years:Born in Berwickshire, 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...
, probably in 1817 when Perry developed a severe illness. It was Black who later employed Dickens, Mayhew, and John Stuart Mill
John Stuart Mill
John Stuart Mill was a British philosopher, economist and civil servant. An influential contributor to social theory, political theory, and political economy, his conception of liberty justified the freedom of the individual in opposition to unlimited state control. He was a proponent of...
. Perry died in 1821. Woodfall had died in 1803.
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...
began reporting for the Chronicle in 1834. It was in this medium that he also began publishing short stories under the pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
"Boz".
The articles by Henry Mayhew
Henry Mayhew
Henry Mayhew was an English social researcher, journalist, playwright and advocate of reform. He was one of the two founders of the satirical and humorous magazine Punch, and the magazine's joint-editor, with Mark Lemon, in its early days...
were published in 1849, accompanied by similar articles about other regions of the country, written by other journalists.
The Morning Chronicle was suspended with the 21 December 1862 issue and resumed with the 9 January 1864 issue. Then it was suspended again with the 10 January 1864 issue and again resumed with the 2 March 1865 issue.British Newspaper
Editors
- 1769: William WoodfallWilliam WoodfallWilliam Woodfall was an English printer and publisher in the 18th century.William's father, Henry Woodfall, printed and published the Public Advertiser. William served an apprenticeship with him after attending St...
- 1789: James PerryJames 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...
- 1817: John BlackJohn Black (journalist)John Black was a British journalist and newspaper editor.-Early years:Born in Berwickshire, 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...
- 1834: Andrew Doyle