Henry F. Harrington
Encyclopedia
Henry F. Harrington was an American
newspaper editor. He edited the Boston Herald
for part of the 1830s.
In 1837, Harrington delivered a message by train from Worcester
to Boston
, a distance of 45 miles. The trip took just under an hour. Martin, while appreciative of Harrington's determination, ridiculed his disheveled appearance: ". . . and in those days the engineer had so little protection from the sparks and dust, that Mr. Harrington presented a very comical appearance, as with that precious document, the President's Message, in his hand, he rushed from the depot to his office."
Harrington opposed George Washington Dixon
during that editor's run of the Bostonian; or, Dixon's Saturday Night Express. When one of Harrington's reporters called Dixon a "knave" for allegedly fabricating a story about an elopment, Dixon struck back at Harrington, calling him "Little Harry, [editor] of the Penny Herald"" and depicting him as a monkey labeled "Little Harry the Great Unbeliever". Harrington retaliated by accusing Dixon of stealing half of a ream of pink paper from the Boston Post
—the Heralds main competitor.
The Lowell Courier satirized the ludicrous scene at Dixon's trial:
Harrington presented the prosecution's case himself. The judge dismissed the case and freed Dixon when he asserted that the identity of the guilty party could not be established beyond doubt.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
newspaper editor. He edited the Boston Herald
Boston Herald
The Boston Herald is a daily newspaper that serves Boston, Massachusetts, United States, and its surrounding area. It was started in 1846 and is one of the oldest daily newspapers in the United States...
for part of the 1830s.
In 1837, Harrington delivered a message by train from Worcester
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
to 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...
, a distance of 45 miles. The trip took just under an hour. Martin, while appreciative of Harrington's determination, ridiculed his disheveled appearance: ". . . and in those days the engineer had so little protection from the sparks and dust, that Mr. Harrington presented a very comical appearance, as with that precious document, the President's Message, in his hand, he rushed from the depot to his office."
Harrington opposed George Washington Dixon
George Washington Dixon
George Washington Dixon was an American singer, stage actor, and newspaper editor. He rose to prominence as a blackface performer after performing "Coal Black Rose", "Zip Coon", and similar songs...
during that editor's run of the Bostonian; or, Dixon's Saturday Night Express. When one of Harrington's reporters called Dixon a "knave" for allegedly fabricating a story about an elopment, Dixon struck back at Harrington, calling him "Little Harry, [editor] of the Penny Herald"" and depicting him as a monkey labeled "Little Harry the Great Unbeliever". Harrington retaliated by accusing Dixon of stealing half of a ream of pink paper from the Boston Post
Boston Post
The Boston Post was the most popular daily newspaper in New England for over a hundred years before it folded in 1956. The Post was founded in November 1831 by two prominent Boston businessmen, Charles G...
—the Heralds main competitor.
The Lowell Courier satirized the ludicrous scene at Dixon's trial:
The first day of February will not hereafter be used in the almanacs as a dead blank—a dull, monotonous nothing . . . . It was on this veritable day in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven, new style, at ten minutes and twenty three seconds past three o'clock in the afternoon, wind S.S.E., that George Washington Dixon, the American Melodist—the great Buffo Singer—the immortal Zip Coon himself—was brought before the Police Court, charged by his brother editor Henry F. Harrington (Esquire) with stealing half a ream of letter-paper from the office of the Morning Post.—We are thus particular about dates, that future chronologers and historians may be under no misapprehension relative to the positive commencement of this new era; an era that will be held in remembrances by the "sons of song" long after their great master spirit has gone off in a double shuffle to a place where all is "discord, harmony, not understood." (Pope.)
Harrington presented the prosecution's case himself. The judge dismissed the case and freed Dixon when he asserted that the identity of the guilty party could not be established beyond doubt.