John Mein (publisher)
Encyclopedia
John Mein was a Boston, Massachusetts, bookseller and publisher in the time before the American Revolution
. Mein started Boston's first circulating library, and with his business partner, John Fleeming
, Mein published the Loyalist
newspaper, the Boston Chronicle
, the first semi-weekly in New England
.
the theologian), Mein opened a store advertising English and Scottish prayer books
, and beer from Edinburgh. Within the year, Mein dissolved the partnership with Sandeman.
Mein then opened his own bookstore that he named The London Bookstore, and began the first circulating library in Boston. His catalog advertised twelve hundred books, and he offered various payment schedules: "One Pound, Eight Shillings, lawful Mondey, per Year; Eighteen Shillings per Half-Year; or Ten and Eight Pence per Quarter." He sold the catalog for a shilling, and restricted loans to one book at a time. The library collection included works of history, literature, travel, law, medicine, and the like, in English and French, by authors such as:
Periodicals
In December 1767, to increase business, Mein started up The Boston Chronicle with Fleeming. Fleeming (or Fleming), the other partner in the firm, Mein and Fleeming, was also a "Scotchman". They also printed several books and almanacks, including the almanac
Mein and Fleeming's register for New-England and Nova Scotia
.
The Boston Chronicle was a Tory paper and began by publishing articles from London critical of William Pitt who was the Whig’s hero. The Boston Gazette responded with a letter (01/18/1768) probably written by James Otis attacking the views of the Chronicle. Mein visited the office of the Gazette (01/25/1768) demanding to know who wrote the article. Benjamin Edes would not reveal the source of the letter. A day later Mein ran into Edes on the street and attacked him. James Otis representing Edes won an award of £70.
Opposed to boycotting goods subject to stamp duties, Mein wrote in the Chronicle in support of the colonial policy of the British government including, in 1769, lists of names that accused colonial merchants of breaking a British nonimportation agreement. In retaliation, Mein's name appeared on a list of merchants who violated the trade agreement. Mein responded by publishing another letter, this time accusing the Merchants' Committee of using the nonimportation agreement for illegal profiteering. The irritated public ransacked the Chronicle and Mein's office in October 1769. In the scuffle, Mein shot a grenadier. He sought safety on a ship in the harbor which sailed for Great Britain a few days later.
Previously in July of 1769 Thomas Longman a supplier of books to both Mein and John Hancock wrote the latter for a suggestion of a representative in Boston who would represent him in his attempts to obtain payment for books owed to him by Mein. Hancock seeing this as a golden opportunity offered himself. In October while Mein was travelling east to London, the Power of Attorney was travelling west to John Hancock.
Mein left New England 2000 pounds in debt. Upon reaching England, he made contact with Lord Dartmouth
and gave his perspective of affairs in colonial Massachusetts. Thereafter, Mein spent a year in King's Bench Prison
. Upon release, he wrote against the patriot movement in various London newspapers.
He returned to Boston where he was convicted for failing to meet his financial obligations, with no mention of the grenadier. He made an attempt at re-establishing his bookseller and library business with limited success. After spending some time in Boston's prison, Mein returned to England.
The Boston Chronicle was being operated by Mein’s partner John Fleeming and had stopped publishing the attacks on the patriots. In March, 1770 John Hancock represented by John Adams was granted an attachment of £2000. The Sheriff subsequently accepted the pledges of Mein’s friends and the Chronicle stayed in business.
Finally in September 1770 Mein, unable to come to terms with his creditors realized he had lost. In November the Inferior Court ruled against him and the Supreme Court ruled against his appeal. John Hancock disposed of all of his assets but the creditors still received only 50% of what they were owed. John Hancock however had a great victory as he had destroyed a critic while maintaining freedom of the press.
Later
a surveyor and political figure in Lower Canada
and a militia officer in Upper Canada
. Mein belonged to the Scots Charitable Society of Boston
. He died in London.
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...
. Mein started Boston's first circulating library, and with his business partner, John Fleeming
John Fleeming
John Fleeming or John Fleming was a printer, publisher and bookseller in Boston, Massachusetts, in the 18th century.-Biography:Fleeming moved from Scotland to Boston around 1764. In 1765 he worked with William M'Alpine as a publisher/bookseller on Marlborough Street...
, Mein published the Loyalist
Loyalist (American Revolution)
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the Kingdom of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. At the time they were often called Tories, Royalists, or King's Men. They were opposed by the Patriots, those who supported the revolution...
newspaper, the Boston Chronicle
Boston Chronicle
The Boston Chronicle was an American colonial newspaper published briefly from December 21, 1767 until 1770 in Boston, Massachusetts. The publishers, John Mein and John Fleeming, were both from Scotland. The Chronicle was a Loyalist paper in the time before the American Revolution...
, the first semi-weekly in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
.
Early years
Mein, son of John Mein, was born in Edinburgh where he received a good education before entering the bookselling business. In 1754, he apprenticed to Edinburgh bookseller, John Trail, and in 1760, he became Burgess and Guild Brother of Edinburgh. In 1761, Mein advertised a variety of children's books, and in November 1763, he announced that he would give up his business the following year.Career
Mein emigrated to Boston in October 1764 with a large quantity of books and linens. With Robert Sandeman (nephew of Robert SandemanRobert Sandeman (theologian)
Robert Sandeman was a nonconformist theologian. He was closely associated with the Glasite church which he helped to promote....
the theologian), Mein opened a store advertising English and Scottish prayer books
Book of Common Prayer
The Book of Common Prayer is the short title of a number of related prayer books used in the Anglican Communion, as well as by the Continuing Anglican, "Anglican realignment" and other Anglican churches. The original book, published in 1549 , in the reign of Edward VI, was a product of the English...
, and beer from Edinburgh. Within the year, Mein dissolved the partnership with Sandeman.
Mein then opened his own bookstore that he named The London Bookstore, and began the first circulating library in Boston. His catalog advertised twelve hundred books, and he offered various payment schedules: "One Pound, Eight Shillings, lawful Mondey, per Year; Eighteen Shillings per Half-Year; or Ten and Eight Pence per Quarter." He sold the catalog for a shilling, and restricted loans to one book at a time. The library collection included works of history, literature, travel, law, medicine, and the like, in English and French, by authors such as:
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Periodicals
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- The Connoisseur (newspaper)
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- The Guardian (1713)The Guardian (1713)The Guardian was a short-lived newspaper published in London from 12 March to 1 October 1713. It was founded by Richard Steele and featured contributions from Joseph Addison, Thomas Tickell, Alexander Pope and Ambrose Philips...
- Herald, or Patriot Proclaimer
- The London Magazine
- The RamblerThe RamblerThe Rambler was a periodical by Samuel Johnson.-Description:The Rambler was published on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 1750 to 1752 and totals 208 articles. It was Johnson's most consistent and sustained work in the English language...
- The Spectator (1711)The Spectator (1711)The Spectator was a daily publication of 1711–12, founded by Joseph Addison and Richard Steele in England after they met at Charterhouse School. Eustace Budgell, a cousin of Addison's, also contributed to the publication. Each 'paper', or 'number', was approximately 2,500 words long, and the...
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- The WorldThe World (1753 newspaper)The World was a London 18th century weekly newspaper. Contributors included Edward Moore, Horace Walpole, and Charles Hanbury Williams.-Further reading:* The World. ;...
In December 1767, to increase business, Mein started up The Boston Chronicle with Fleeming. Fleeming (or Fleming), the other partner in the firm, Mein and Fleeming, was also a "Scotchman". They also printed several books and almanacks, including the 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...
Mein and Fleeming's register for New-England and Nova Scotia
.
The Boston Chronicle was a Tory paper and began by publishing articles from London critical of William Pitt who was the Whig’s hero. The Boston Gazette responded with a letter (01/18/1768) probably written by James Otis attacking the views of the Chronicle. Mein visited the office of the Gazette (01/25/1768) demanding to know who wrote the article. Benjamin Edes would not reveal the source of the letter. A day later Mein ran into Edes on the street and attacked him. James Otis representing Edes won an award of £70.
Opposed to boycotting goods subject to stamp duties, Mein wrote in the Chronicle in support of the colonial policy of the British government including, in 1769, lists of names that accused colonial merchants of breaking a British nonimportation agreement. In retaliation, Mein's name appeared on a list of merchants who violated the trade agreement. Mein responded by publishing another letter, this time accusing the Merchants' Committee of using the nonimportation agreement for illegal profiteering. The irritated public ransacked the Chronicle and Mein's office in October 1769. In the scuffle, Mein shot a grenadier. He sought safety on a ship in the harbor which sailed for Great Britain a few days later.
Previously in July of 1769 Thomas Longman a supplier of books to both Mein and John Hancock wrote the latter for a suggestion of a representative in Boston who would represent him in his attempts to obtain payment for books owed to him by Mein. Hancock seeing this as a golden opportunity offered himself. In October while Mein was travelling east to London, the Power of Attorney was travelling west to John Hancock.
Mein left New England 2000 pounds in debt. Upon reaching England, he made contact with Lord Dartmouth
William Legge, 2nd Earl of Dartmouth
William Legge 2nd Earl of Dartmouth PC, FRS , styled as Viscount Lewisham from 1732 to 1750, was a British statesman who is most remembered for his part in the government before and during the American Revolution....
and gave his perspective of affairs in colonial Massachusetts. Thereafter, Mein spent a year in King's Bench Prison
King's Bench Prison
The King's Bench Prison was a prison in Southwark, south London, from medieval times until it closed in 1880. It took its name from the King's Bench court of law in which cases of defamation, bankruptcy and other misdemeanours were heard; as such, the prison was often used as a debtor's prison...
. Upon release, he wrote against the patriot movement in various London newspapers.
He returned to Boston where he was convicted for failing to meet his financial obligations, with no mention of the grenadier. He made an attempt at re-establishing his bookseller and library business with limited success. After spending some time in Boston's prison, Mein returned to England.
The Boston Chronicle was being operated by Mein’s partner John Fleeming and had stopped publishing the attacks on the patriots. In March, 1770 John Hancock represented by John Adams was granted an attachment of £2000. The Sheriff subsequently accepted the pledges of Mein’s friends and the Chronicle stayed in business.
Finally in September 1770 Mein, unable to come to terms with his creditors realized he had lost. In November the Inferior Court ruled against him and the Supreme Court ruled against his appeal. John Hancock disposed of all of his assets but the creditors still received only 50% of what they were owed. John Hancock however had a great victory as he had destroyed a critic while maintaining freedom of the press.
Later
Personal life
Mein was friends with Nathaniel CoffinNathaniel Coffin
Nathaniel Coffin was a surveyor and political figure in Lower Canada and a militia officer in Upper Canada....
a surveyor and political figure in Lower Canada
Lower Canada
The Province of Lower Canada was a British colony on the lower Saint Lawrence River and the shores of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence...
and a militia officer 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...
. Mein belonged to the Scots Charitable Society of Boston
Scots Charitable Society of Boston
The Scots Charitable Society of Boston, Massachusetts, was established to provide relief for local, "needy Scotch people, after proper investigation." It "enjoys the distinction of being the oldest Scots society in America." It "became the prototype for thousands of other groups" of private...
. He died in London.
Partial works
- 1765, A catalogue of Mein's circulating library, consisting of above twelve hundred volumes, in most branches of polite literature, arts and sciences; viz. history, voyages, travels, lives ... &c. ...
- 1767, Boston, October 22d, 1767 : Proposals for printing a new weekly paper, called the Boston chronicle. ... Subscriptions are taken in by John Mein at the London Book-Store, north side of King-Street.
- 1767, Table of the kings and queens, from the conquest of the Heptarchy, A.D. 821. (which was united in 828) by Egbert, King of the West-Saxons, and first monarch of all England.
- 1767, Bickerstaff's Boston almanack, for the year of our Lord 1768 ... : Calculated for the meridian of Boston; but will answer without a sensible error for any part of New-England. : Illustrated with an elegant plate of the giants lately discovered in South America ...
- 1769, A state of the importations from Great-Britain into the port of Boston, from the beginning of Jan. 1769, to Aug. 17th 1769. : With the advertisements of a set of men who assumed to themselves the title of "All the well disposed merchants," who entered into a solemn agreement, (as they called it) not to import goods from Britain, and who undertook to give a "true account" of what should be imported by other persons. : The whole taken from the Boston chronicle, in which the following papers were first published.
- 1770, A state of importations from Great-Britain into the port of Boston. From the beginning of January 1770. To which is added an account of all goods that have been re-shipt from the above port for Great-Britain since January 1769.
- 1775, Sagittarius's letters and political speculations extracted from the Public ledger. Humbly inscribed to the very loyal and truly pious Doctor Samuel Cooper, pastor of the Congregational church in Brattle street.
Further reading
- Charles K. Bolton. Circulating libraries in Boston, 1765-1865. Publications of the Colonial Society of Massachusetts, Volume 11. Feb. 1907; p. 196+
- Colin Nicolson. A Plan "To Banish All the Scotchmen": Victimization and Political Mobilization in Pre- Revolutionary Boston. Massachusetts Historical Review, Vol. 9 (2007), pp. 55–102.