Daniel Fowle (printer)
Encyclopedia
Daniel Fowle was an American
printer
before and during the American Revolution
, and the founder of The New Hampshire Gazette
. Fowle, a native of Boston
, Massachusetts
, was an active printer in the city beginning in 1740. Over the next fifteen years, Fowle would print or co-print publications such as the American Magazine and Historical Chronicle
and The Independent Advertiser
. Along with his business partner Gamaliel Rogers, Fowle was the first to print Samuel Adams
and the New Testament
in the American Colonies. In 1755, he was arrested on orders from the Massachusetts House of Representatives
for printing a seditious pamphlet called "The Monster of Monsters." After his release from jail, he printed "A Total Eclipse of Liberty" in response to his arrest, and fled to Portsmouth
, New Hampshire
.
On October 7, 1756, Fowle, by this time a slave holder, began publication of the New Hampshire Gazette. The Gazette become the colony's sole newspaper
at the beginning of the Revolution. In addition to the Gazette, Fowle published state laws, as well as the first book published in the colony, Reverend Samuel Langdon
's The Excellency of the Word of God. He published the Gazette until 1785 when he sold the paper. As of 2010, The Gazette, America's oldest newspaper, is still published.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
before and 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...
, and the founder of The New Hampshire Gazette
The New Hampshire Gazette
The New Hampshire Gazette is a non-profit, alternative, bi-weekly newspaper published in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Its editors claim that the paper, published on-and-off in one form or another since 1756, is America's oldest newspaper and has trademarked the phrase "The Nation's Oldest...
. Fowle, a native of Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, was an active printer in the city beginning in 1740. Over the next fifteen years, Fowle would print or co-print publications such as the American Magazine and Historical Chronicle
American Magazine and Historical Chronicle
The American Magazine and Historical Chronicle was a periodical in Boston, Massachusetts, printed by Rogers & Fowle , and published by Samuel Eliot and Joshua Blanchard. Scholars suggest that Jeremiah Gridley served as editor.-Further reading:* Albert Ten Eyck Gardner. A Majestick Shape: 1745...
and The Independent Advertiser
The Independent Advertiser
The Independent Advertiser was an American patriot publication, founded in 1748 in Boston by the then 26-year old Samuel Adams, advocating republicanism, liberty and independence from Great Britain. Published by Gamaliel Rogers and Daniel Fowle, the Advertiser consisted primarily of essays written...
. Along with his business partner Gamaliel Rogers, Fowle was the first to print Samuel Adams
Samuel Adams
Samuel Adams was an American statesman, political philosopher, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. As a politician in colonial Massachusetts, Adams was a leader of the movement that became the American Revolution, and was one of the architects of the principles of American...
and the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
in the American Colonies. In 1755, he was arrested on orders from the Massachusetts House of Representatives
Massachusetts House of Representatives
The Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court, the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is composed of 160 members elected from single-member electoral districts across the Commonwealth. Representatives serve two-year terms...
for printing a seditious pamphlet called "The Monster of Monsters." After his release from jail, he printed "A Total Eclipse of Liberty" in response to his arrest, and fled to Portsmouth
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire in the United States. It is the largest city but only the fourth-largest community in the county, with a population of 21,233 at the 2010 census...
, New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
.
On October 7, 1756, Fowle, by this time a slave holder, began publication of the New Hampshire Gazette. The Gazette become the colony's sole newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
at the beginning of the Revolution. In addition to the Gazette, Fowle published state laws, as well as the first book published in the colony, Reverend Samuel Langdon
Samuel Langdon
Samuel Langdon was a American Congregational clergyman and educator. After serving as pastor in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, he was appointed president of Harvard University in 1774. He held that post until 1780....
's The Excellency of the Word of God. He published the Gazette until 1785 when he sold the paper. As of 2010, The Gazette, America's oldest newspaper, is still published.