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William Bradford (1663-1752)
Encyclopedia
William Bradford was an early English
printer
in North America
. He is best known as "the pioneer printer of the Middle colonies" and the head of a family that included leading publishers for 140 years. He was also known for controversies regarding freedom of press.
in Leicestershire
, England where his father was a printer. As was customary, he was apprenticed outside the family to Andrew Sowle, the foremost Quaker printer in London
. By 1685 he had mastered the trade, acquired his own press, adopted Sowle's religion and married the master's daughter, Elizabeth.
' first printing press printing an almanac
, "Kalendarium Pennsilvaniense" by Samuel Atkins. In the almanac, Bradford apologized for errors caused by his troublesome travel but hoped that readers would appreciate the hard work he underwent in order to bring print to the Middle Colonies.
Governor William Penn
who took offense at a reference to him. Atkins was quickly reprimanded for the incident and Bradford was told not to print anything unless it was approved by the Pennsylvania Council. Later in 1687, Bradford was informed not to print anything about Quakers unless they approved it beforehand.
In 1689, the new Pennsylvania governor John Blackwell
was outraged and officially reprimanded Bradford when he printed William Penn's original charter
for the colony. Bradford argued that he printed what he received and was not liable. Bradford then quit his business and briefly went to England, to return in 1690.
In 1692, Bradford was arrested and tried in the first case in America that raised the issue of Freedom of the Press. He printed a tract of George Keith
that contained material objectionable to the Quaker community leaders. He and John McComb, a taverner who distributed the paper, were briefly jailed, and his press was seized. The trial resulted in no decision, based on a split jury, but soon after release he decided to leave Philadelphia.
in 1693, where he was made the official printer for New York
. Bradford's first publication was called "New-England's Spirit of Persecution Transmitted to Pennsylvania" that fought for his case in the previous printing incidents. Bradford also began printing books, tracts, paper money, and the laws of the colony.
Between 1725-1744, Bradford printed the New York Gazette, the New York's
first newspaper. Bradford's business grew tremendously and he did printing for New Jersey
after 1723.
Bradford retired at the age of 80 in 1743.
.
would become a colonial printer and Bradford's grandson, William would become a famous printer during the American Revolution
.
Earl Shilton
Community College (a college with a sixth form) in Leicestershire
was renamed in honor of its neighboring village's famous son and is now William Bradford Community College.
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...
printer
Printer (publisher)
In publishing, printers are both companies providing printing services and individuals who directly operate printing presses. With the invention of the moveable type printing press by Johannes Gutenberg around 1450, printing—and printers—proliferated throughout Europe.Today, printers are found...
in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. He is best known as "the pioneer printer of the Middle colonies" and the head of a family that included leading publishers for 140 years. He was also known for controversies regarding freedom of press.
Early life
Bradford was born in the village of BarwellBarwell
Barwell is a civil parish and large village in Leicestershire, England, with a population of around 8,750 people. The name literally translates as "Stream of the Boar" and is said to originate from a boar that used to drink from the well near a brook in Barwell. It was originally known as Borewell,...
in Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
, England where his father was a printer. As was customary, he was apprenticed outside the family to Andrew Sowle, the foremost Quaker printer in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. By 1685 he had mastered the trade, acquired his own press, adopted Sowle's religion and married the master's daughter, Elizabeth.
Professional life
In 1685, the Bradfords emigrated to Philadelphia. Bradford soon set up the Middle ColoniesMiddle Colonies
The Middle Colonies comprised the middle region of the Thirteen Colonies of the British Empire in Northern America. In 1776 during the American Revolution, the Middle Colonies became independent of Britain as the states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York and Delaware.Much of the area was part of...
' first printing press printing an almanac
Almanac
An almanac is an annual publication that includes information such as weather forecasts, farmers' planting dates, and tide tables, containing tabular information in a particular field or fields often arranged according to the calendar etc...
, "Kalendarium Pennsilvaniense" by Samuel Atkins. In the almanac, Bradford apologized for errors caused by his troublesome travel but hoped that readers would appreciate the hard work he underwent in order to bring print to the Middle Colonies.
'Freedom of the Press' incidents
In 1685, the almanac that Bradford printed for Atkins received immediate attention, especially from PennsylvaniaProvince of Pennsylvania
The Province of Pennsylvania, also known as Pennsylvania Colony, was founded in British America by William Penn on March 4, 1681 as dictated in a royal charter granted by King Charles II...
Governor William Penn
William Penn
William Penn was an English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania, the English North American colony and the future Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was an early champion of democracy and religious freedom, notable for his good relations and successful...
who took offense at a reference to him. Atkins was quickly reprimanded for the incident and Bradford was told not to print anything unless it was approved by the Pennsylvania Council. Later in 1687, Bradford was informed not to print anything about Quakers unless they approved it beforehand.
In 1689, the new Pennsylvania governor John Blackwell
John Blackwell
John Blackwell may refer to:* John Blackwell , Welsh poet* John Blackwell , drummer in the New Power Generation* John Blackwell , deputy governor of Colonial Pennsylvania...
was outraged and officially reprimanded Bradford when he printed William Penn's original charter
Frame of Government of Pennsylvania
The Frame of Government of Pennsylvania was a constitution for the Province of Pennsylvania, a proprietary colony granted to William Penn by Charles II of England. In 1682 Penn, while still in England, drafted the first version of the Frame of Government to supplement the colony's royal charter...
for the colony. Bradford argued that he printed what he received and was not liable. Bradford then quit his business and briefly went to England, to return in 1690.
In 1692, Bradford was arrested and tried in the first case in America that raised the issue of Freedom of the Press. He printed a tract of George Keith
George Keith
George Keith was a Scottish missionary.-Life:Born in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, to a Presbyterian family, he received an M.A. from the University of Aberdeen...
that contained material objectionable to the Quaker community leaders. He and John McComb, a taverner who distributed the paper, were briefly jailed, and his press was seized. The trial resulted in no decision, based on a split jury, but soon after release he decided to leave Philadelphia.
New York
After being invited, Bradford moved to New YorkNew 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 1693, where he was made the official printer for New York
Province of New York
The Province of New York was an English and later British crown territory that originally included all of the present U.S. states of New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Vermont, along with inland portions of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maine, as well as eastern Pennsylvania...
. Bradford's first publication was called "New-England's Spirit of Persecution Transmitted to Pennsylvania" that fought for his case in the previous printing incidents. Bradford also began printing books, tracts, paper money, and the laws of the colony.
Between 1725-1744, Bradford printed the New York Gazette, the New York's
Province of New York
The Province of New York was an English and later British crown territory that originally included all of the present U.S. states of New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Vermont, along with inland portions of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maine, as well as eastern Pennsylvania...
first newspaper. Bradford's business grew tremendously and he did printing for New Jersey
Province of New Jersey
The Province of New Jersey was one of the Middle Colonies of Colonial America and became the U.S. state of New Jersey in 1776. The province had originally been settled by Europeans as part of New Netherland, but came under English rule after the surrender of Fort Amsterdam in 1664, becoming a...
after 1723.
Bradford retired at the age of 80 in 1743.
Death
Bradford died on May 23, 1752 and was interred in the Trinity Churchyard Cemetery in ManhattanManhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
.
Bradford printing legacy
Bradford's son, AndrewAndrew Bradford
Andrew Bradford was an early American printer in colonial Philadelphia. He published the first newspaper in Pennsylvania in 1729....
would become a colonial printer and Bradford's grandson, William would become a famous printer during the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
.
Earl Shilton
Earl Shilton
Earl Shilton is a small town in Leicestershire, England, some from Hinckley and about 10 miles from Leicester, with a population of around 9,000 .-History:...
Community College (a college with a sixth form) in Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
was renamed in honor of its neighboring village's famous son and is now William Bradford Community College.
Further reading
- Steven J. Shaw. Colonial Newspaper Advertising: A Step toward Freedom of the Press. The Business History Review, Vol. 33, No. 3 (Autumn, 1959), pp. 409–420