John Heriot (journalist)
Encyclopedia
John Heriot was a Scottish
journalist and writer. He was forced to join the Royal Marines
due to family hardship, and served as a junior officer during the American Revolutionary War
. He was wounded in 1780 at the Battle of Martinique
, and retired from the service in 1783; after living in financial difficulties for some years, he published two moderately successful novels in the 1780s, the second of which drew extensively on his experiences as a half-pay
officer.
He was recruited as a pro-government journalist and pamphleteer in 1788, and placed on a salary the following year. He became the founder and sole editor of two pro-government daily newspapers, the Sun and the True Briton, which ran for over a decade, and eventually retired from journalistic work in 1806. He was appointed to a number of government posts, most significantly the comptrollership of Chelsea Hospital, the post he held at his death.
He was a distant relative of the philanthropist George Heriot
, and the younger brother of the Scots-Canadian artist George Heriot
.
in 1760, the second son of John Heriot, the sheriff clerk of the town, and his wife Marjory; his older brother was George Heriot
, later to become a prominent artist. The Heriots were part of the long-established family of the Heriots of Trabroun, the most well-known member of which was the seventeenth-century goldsmith and philanthropist George Heriot
. The family moved to Edinburgh in 1772, where Heriot attended the Edinburgh Royal High School
; he had previously been educated at the Coldstream
grammar school He studied at the University of Edinburgh
after leaving the high school, but the collapse of his father's business in 1777 meant that he had to leave and seek employment.
He lived for three months with an uncle in Forres
, where a member of the local gentry attempted to procure him a commission from the Duke of Dorset
. This was unsuccessful, but it had the effect of directing Heriot towards a military career. Late in 1778, having failed to obtain a commission in Scotland, he travelled to London, where he was appointed a second lieutenant in the Royal Marines
in November 1778.
He quickly arranged for sea duty - as the living expense of a shore posting was substantially more expensive to maintain - and was posted to HMS Vengeance
, commanded by Captain Frederick Maitland. He served off the west coast of Africa and in the West Indies; when Captain Maitland left the Vengeance to take up command of HMS Elizabeth
, Heriot was posted to HMS Preston
. The Preston was an elderly fourth-rate ship, and Heriot quickly arranged to be transferred into the Elizabeth under Maitland. He first saw active fighting aboard the Elizabeth, in an attack on a convoy on 19 December 1779, and again at the Battle of Martinique
on 16 April 1780, where he was wounded. He transferred to HMS Brune in July, commanded by Francis Hartwell, and was aboard her during the Great Hurricane
in October 1780. He was appointed a first lieutenant of marines in August 1781, after the Brune had been paid off, and was later posted to HMS Salisbury and HMS Alexander
, before being put on half-pay at the cessation of hostilities in 1783.
He was hired as one of a number of journalists who wrote pamphlets and newspaper articles in support of the government during the winter of 1788-89, when George III's
insanity had become a matter of very contentious debate. After the insanity crisis had passed, he was put on a permanent salary to continue this work; by 1791, he was drawing an annual salary of £200. He was briefly involved with the Sierra Leone Company
in 1791, but resigned the office of secretary shortly thereafter.
He worked for the Oracle and the World newspapers in 1791, editing both, but did not remain in either post for long. In 1792, at the instigation of Edmund Burke
, he was recruited by the Treasury to establish a pro-government newspaper, the Sun. This was secretly funded by members of the government, on a private basis; Heriot launched it on 1 October 1792, and it quickly rose to become the second most popular newspaper in the country, behind The Times
. He then launched the True Briton, a morning daily, on 1 January 1793; it, too, was funded by the Treasury and maintained a strongly pro-government pro-Tory
line. The True Briton would continue for eleven years before collapsing, whilst the Sun survived until Heriot retired in 1806.
He continued to write during this period, including a history of Gibraltar (1792) to accompany a work by the artist Antonio de Poggi, and an account of the Battle of the Nile
(1798). He was closely connected with the governing circles of the day, and through his personal connections with Pitt the Younger
was able to secure two important government posts for his brother George
in Upper Canada
.
He left newspaper work in 1806 and became a commissioner for the lottery; in 1810 he was made an Army deputy paymaster-general in the West Indies; and in 1816 the comptroller of Chelsea Hospital. He died in 1833, of "sudden paralysis", three days after his wife.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
journalist and writer. He was forced to join the Royal Marines
Royal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
due to family hardship, and served as a junior officer during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. He was wounded in 1780 at the Battle of Martinique
Battle of Martinique (1780)
The Battle of Martinique, also Combat de la Dominique, took place on April 17, 1780 during the American War of Independence in the West Indies between the British Royal Navy and the French Navy.-Origins:...
, and retired from the service in 1783; after living in financial difficulties for some years, he published two moderately successful novels in the 1780s, the second of which drew extensively on his experiences as a half-pay
Half-pay
In the British Army and Royal Navy of the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries, half-pay referred to the pay or allowance an officer received when in retirement or not in actual service....
officer.
He was recruited as a pro-government journalist and pamphleteer in 1788, and placed on a salary the following year. He became the founder and sole editor of two pro-government daily newspapers, the Sun and the True Briton, which ran for over a decade, and eventually retired from journalistic work in 1806. He was appointed to a number of government posts, most significantly the comptrollership of Chelsea Hospital, the post he held at his death.
He was a distant relative of the philanthropist George Heriot
George Heriot
George Heriot was a Scottish goldsmith and philanthropist. He is chiefly remembered today as founder of George Heriot's School, a large private school in Edinburgh; his name has also been given to Heriot-Watt University, as well as several streets in the same city.Heriot was the court goldsmith...
, and the younger brother of the Scots-Canadian artist George Heriot
George Heriot (artist)
George Heriot was a Scottish-Canadian civil servant, author and artist. He is most notable as a major figure in early Canadian art.-Early life:...
.
Early life
Heriot was born at HaddingtonHaddington, East Lothian
The Royal Burgh of Haddington is a town in East Lothian, Scotland. It is the main administrative, cultural and geographical centre for East Lothian, which was known officially as Haddingtonshire before 1921. It lies about east of Edinburgh. The name Haddington is Anglo-Saxon, dating from the 6th...
in 1760, the second son of John Heriot, the sheriff clerk of the town, and his wife Marjory; his older brother was George Heriot
George Heriot (artist)
George Heriot was a Scottish-Canadian civil servant, author and artist. He is most notable as a major figure in early Canadian art.-Early life:...
, later to become a prominent artist. The Heriots were part of the long-established family of the Heriots of Trabroun, the most well-known member of which was the seventeenth-century goldsmith and philanthropist George Heriot
George Heriot
George Heriot was a Scottish goldsmith and philanthropist. He is chiefly remembered today as founder of George Heriot's School, a large private school in Edinburgh; his name has also been given to Heriot-Watt University, as well as several streets in the same city.Heriot was the court goldsmith...
. The family moved to Edinburgh in 1772, where Heriot attended the Edinburgh Royal High School
Royal High School (Edinburgh)
The Royal High School of Edinburgh is a co-educational state school administered by the City of Edinburgh Council. The school was founded in 1128 and is one of the oldest schools in Scotland, and has, throughout its history, been high achieving, consistently attaining well above average exam results...
; he had previously been educated at the Coldstream
Coldstream
Coldstream is a small town in the Borders district of Scotland. It lies on the north bank of the River Tweed in Berwickshire, while Northumberland in England lies to the south bank, with Cornhill-on-Tweed the nearest village...
grammar school He studied at the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
after leaving the high school, but the collapse of his father's business in 1777 meant that he had to leave and seek employment.
He lived for three months with an uncle in Forres
Forres
Forres , is a town and former royal burgh situated in the north of Scotland on the Moray coast, approximately 30 miles east of Inverness. Forres has been a winner of the Scotland in Bloom award on several occasions...
, where a member of the local gentry attempted to procure him a commission from the Duke of Dorset
John Sackville, 3rd Duke of Dorset
John Frederick Sackville, 3rd Duke of Dorset was the only son of Lord John Philip Sackville, second son of Lionel Sackville, 1st Duke of Dorset. He succeeded to the dukedom in 1769 on the death of his uncle, Charles Sackville, 2nd Duke of Dorset...
. This was unsuccessful, but it had the effect of directing Heriot towards a military career. Late in 1778, having failed to obtain a commission in Scotland, he travelled to London, where he was appointed a second lieutenant in the Royal Marines
Royal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
in November 1778.
He quickly arranged for sea duty - as the living expense of a shore posting was substantially more expensive to maintain - and was posted to HMS Vengeance
HMS Vengeance (1774)
HMS Vengeance was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 25 June 1774 at Rotherhithe.She became a prison ship in 1808, and was broken up in 1816....
, commanded by Captain Frederick Maitland. He served off the west coast of Africa and in the West Indies; when Captain Maitland left the Vengeance to take up command of HMS Elizabeth
HMS Elizabeth (1769)
HMS Elizabeth was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 17 October 1769 at Portsmouth Dockyard.She was broken up in 1797....
, Heriot was posted to HMS Preston
HMS Preston (1757)
HMS Preston was a 50-gun fourth rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built at Deptford Dockyard to the draught specified in the 1745 Establishment, and launched on 7 February 1757....
. The Preston was an elderly fourth-rate ship, and Heriot quickly arranged to be transferred into the Elizabeth under Maitland. He first saw active fighting aboard the Elizabeth, in an attack on a convoy on 19 December 1779, and again at the Battle of Martinique
Battle of Martinique (1780)
The Battle of Martinique, also Combat de la Dominique, took place on April 17, 1780 during the American War of Independence in the West Indies between the British Royal Navy and the French Navy.-Origins:...
on 16 April 1780, where he was wounded. He transferred to HMS Brune in July, commanded by Francis Hartwell, and was aboard her during the Great Hurricane
Great Hurricane of 1780
The Great Hurricane of 1780, also known as Hurricane San Calixto, the Great Hurricane of the Antilles, and the 1780 Disaster, is the deadliest Atlantic hurricane on record. Over 20,000 people died when the storm passed through the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean between October 10 and October...
in October 1780. He was appointed a first lieutenant of marines in August 1781, after the Brune had been paid off, and was later posted to HMS Salisbury and HMS Alexander
HMS Alexander (1778)
HMS Alexander was a Royal Navy 74-gun third-rate. This ship of the line was launched at Deptford on 8 October 1778. During her career she was captured by the French, and later recaptured by the British. She fought at the Nile in 1798, and was broken up in 1819...
, before being put on half-pay at the cessation of hostilities in 1783.
Writing career
Heriot, now living in London, had mortgaged his pay to help support his parents, and was without any source of income. In an attempt to support himself, he wrote two novels - The Sorrows of the Heart (1787), and The Half-Pay Officer (1789), the latter of which was semi-autobiographical. These raised enough to support him for two years, during which time he married Alison Shiriff, with whom he would have two daughters.He was hired as one of a number of journalists who wrote pamphlets and newspaper articles in support of the government during the winter of 1788-89, when George III's
George III of the United Kingdom
George III was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of these two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death...
insanity had become a matter of very contentious debate. After the insanity crisis had passed, he was put on a permanent salary to continue this work; by 1791, he was drawing an annual salary of £200. He was briefly involved with the Sierra Leone Company
Sierra Leone Company
The Sierra Leone Company was the corporate body involved in founding the second British colony in Africa in 1792 through the resettlement of black American ex-slaves who had initially been settled in Nova Scotia after the American Revolutionary War...
in 1791, but resigned the office of secretary shortly thereafter.
He worked for the Oracle and the World newspapers in 1791, editing both, but did not remain in either post for long. In 1792, at the instigation of Edmund Burke
Edmund Burke
Edmund Burke PC was an Irish statesman, author, orator, political theorist and philosopher who, after moving to England, served for many years in the House of Commons of Great Britain as a member of the Whig party....
, he was recruited by the Treasury to establish a pro-government newspaper, the Sun. This was secretly funded by members of the government, on a private basis; Heriot launched it on 1 October 1792, and it quickly rose to become the second most popular newspaper in the country, behind The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
. He then launched the True Briton, a morning daily, on 1 January 1793; it, too, was funded by the Treasury and maintained a strongly pro-government pro-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...
line. The True Briton would continue for eleven years before collapsing, whilst the Sun survived until Heriot retired in 1806.
He continued to write during this period, including a history of Gibraltar (1792) to accompany a work by the artist Antonio de Poggi, and an account of the Battle of the Nile
Battle of the Nile
The Battle of the Nile was a major naval battle fought between British and French fleets at Aboukir Bay on the Mediterranean coast of Egypt from 1–3 August 1798...
(1798). He was closely connected with the governing circles of the day, and through his personal connections with Pitt the Younger
William Pitt the Younger
William Pitt the Younger was a British politician of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He became the youngest Prime Minister in 1783 at the age of 24 . He left office in 1801, but was Prime Minister again from 1804 until his death in 1806...
was able to secure two important government posts for his brother George
George Heriot (artist)
George Heriot was a Scottish-Canadian civil servant, author and artist. He is most notable as a major figure in early Canadian art.-Early life:...
in Upper Canada
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
.
He left newspaper work in 1806 and became a commissioner for the lottery; in 1810 he was made an Army deputy paymaster-general in the West Indies; and in 1816 the comptroller of Chelsea Hospital. He died in 1833, of "sudden paralysis", three days after his wife.