Mathew Carey
Encyclopedia
Mathew Carey was an Irish-born American publisher and economist
.
, working at the time as American revolutionary ambassador to France, who took him on to work in his printing office.
Carey worked for Franklin for a year before returning to Ireland where he edited two Irish nationalist newspapers, The Freeman's Journal and The Volunteer's Journal. To avoid imprisonment and prosecution by the British, Carey immigrated to America in September 1784.
None of these ventures proved to be profitable. Carey printed the first American version of the Douay-Rheims Bible, popularly known as the Carey Bible
, which was the first Roman Catholic version of the Bible printed in the United States. He also printed numerous editions of the King James version. He also frequently wrote on various social topics, discussed politics, and reported on debates in the state legislature and was an original member of the American Sunday-School Society.
In 1825, Carey retired, leaving his business to his son, Henry C. Carey. His son's brother-in-law, Isaac Lea, joined him in the business and, under their direction, the publishing business became for a while one of the most prominent in the country. The business published such works as:
After the death of Carey and his son the business changed its name from "Carey and Lea" to "Lea and Blanchard"; this was later changed again to "Lea Brothers and Company."
, still a leading figure of the Federalist Party
at the time. Carey’s passionate support of the establishment of an American Navy was one significant reason he found himself aligned with the Federalists upon his arrival.
Consistently throughout his political career in America, Carey maintained his adamant support of American naval strength, even after leaving Adams
and Hamilton’s
pro-Navy Federalists to join Jefferson
’s Democratic-Republicans in 1796. Carey’s political realignment occurred shortly before the American ratification of the Jay Treaty
, primarily intended to ensure peace with Britain, while distancing America from France.
Carey’s strong support of American naval power and his “early political activities in Ireland were affected, in part, by the American navy’s decision to carry the war [the American Revolution] into the home waters of Great Britain. John Paul Jones’ victory over HMS Drake
off Belfast
in June 1778, unleashed a torrent of pro-American sentiment.” Carey’s publications in America successfully channeled his energy towards productive political objectives. His published works are attributed to swaying public opinion towards the establishment of a powerful American navy.
Carey’s publication Naval History of the United States was one such effort meant to influence the public consciousness. The work’s conspicuous omission of naval activity during the American Quasi-War
with France makes the political intentions of the publication especially apparent. This exclusion would have focused political energy against the British, with whom America was at war at the time of the book’s publication on May 6, 1813.
Focus on the British, known around the world for their naval dominance, made an influential case for extending the reach of the American navy. Along with his publication of Naval History, another of Carey’s works, Olive Branch, was published 1814. This work was primarily an effort to eliminate competition between the two American parties, creating unity against the British for the War of 1812
. These efforts, and his early relationship with Franklin, made him the logical choice as Franklin's political successor in many people's eyes. His efforts and publications are thought to have significantly influenced the to the establishment of the United States Whig Party.
, who joined his publishing firm.
created the Carey-Thomas Award for creative publishing, naming it honor of Mathew Carey and Isaiah Thomas
.
Economist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
.
Early days
Carey came from a middle-class family and was born in Dublin in 1760. He entered the bookselling and printing business in 1775, and when still only seventeen published a pamphlet criticizing dueling. This publication was quickly followed by another work criticizing the severity of the Irish penal code and as a result the authorities threatened him with prosecution. As a result of these threats he moved to Paris in 1781. There he met Benjamin FranklinBenjamin Franklin
Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
, working at the time as American revolutionary ambassador to France, who took him on to work in his printing office.
Carey worked for Franklin for a year before returning to Ireland where he edited two Irish nationalist newspapers, The Freeman's Journal and The Volunteer's Journal. To avoid imprisonment and prosecution by the British, Carey immigrated to America in September 1784.
Business in America
Upon Carey's arrival in Philadelphia, the Marquis de Lafayette gave him $400 to establish himself. Carey used this money to establish a new publishing business and a book shop. He established:- The Pennsylvania Herald,
- Columbian Magazine, and
- The American MuseumThe American Museum (magazine)The American Museum was a monthly American literary magazine published by Mathew Carey in the late-18th century. The American Museum "shares with the Columbian Magazine the honor of being the first successful American magazine."...
.
None of these ventures proved to be profitable. Carey printed the first American version of the Douay-Rheims Bible, popularly known as the Carey Bible
Carey Bible
The Carey Bible was an edition of the English-language Douay-Rheims translation of the Bible published by Mathew Carey beginning in 1789. It was the first Roman Catholic version of the Bible printed in the United States....
, which was the first Roman Catholic version of the Bible printed in the United States. He also printed numerous editions of the King James version. He also frequently wrote on various social topics, discussed politics, and reported on debates in the state legislature and was an original member of the American Sunday-School Society.
In 1825, Carey retired, leaving his business to his son, Henry C. Carey. His son's brother-in-law, Isaac Lea, joined him in the business and, under their direction, the publishing business became for a while one of the most prominent in the country. The business published such works as:
- The Encyclopedia Americana, and
- A dictionary of German lexicon.
After the death of Carey and his son the business changed its name from "Carey and Lea" to "Lea and Blanchard"; this was later changed again to "Lea Brothers and Company."
Politics
Upon arriving in America, Carey’s expertise and publishing allowed him to quickly develop political connections in the developing country. One of his most important supporters was John AdamsJohn Adams
John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States...
, still a leading figure of the Federalist Party
Federalist Party (United States)
The Federalist Party was the first American political party, from the early 1790s to 1816, the era of the First Party System, with remnants lasting into the 1820s. The Federalists controlled the federal government until 1801...
at the time. Carey’s passionate support of the establishment of an American Navy was one significant reason he found himself aligned with the Federalists upon his arrival.
Consistently throughout his political career in America, Carey maintained his adamant support of American naval strength, even after leaving Adams
John Adams
John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States...
and Hamilton’s
Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton was a Founding Father, soldier, economist, political philosopher, one of America's first constitutional lawyers and the first United States Secretary of the Treasury...
pro-Navy Federalists to join Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
’s Democratic-Republicans in 1796. Carey’s political realignment occurred shortly before the American ratification of the Jay Treaty
Jay Treaty
Jay's Treaty, , also known as Jay's Treaty, The British Treaty, and the Treaty of London of 1794, was a treaty between the United States and Great Britain that is credited with averting war,, resolving issues remaining since the Treaty of Paris of 1783, which ended the American Revolution,, and...
, primarily intended to ensure peace with Britain, while distancing America from France.
Carey’s strong support of American naval power and his “early political activities in Ireland were affected, in part, by the American navy’s decision to carry the war [the American Revolution] into the home waters of Great Britain. John Paul Jones’ victory over HMS Drake
HMS Drake (1777)
HMS Drake was a twenty-gun sloop-of-war of the Royal Navy. Originally named Resolution, she was purchased in 1777. She served in the American Revolutionary War, and on 24 April 1778, off Carrickfergus, Ireland, she fought the North Channel naval duel with the 18-gun sloop Ranger of the Continental...
off Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
in June 1778, unleashed a torrent of pro-American sentiment.” Carey’s publications in America successfully channeled his energy towards productive political objectives. His published works are attributed to swaying public opinion towards the establishment of a powerful American navy.
Carey’s publication Naval History of the United States was one such effort meant to influence the public consciousness. The work’s conspicuous omission of naval activity during the American Quasi-War
Quasi-War
The Quasi-War was an undeclared war fought mostly at sea between the United States and French Republic from 1798 to 1800. In the United States, the conflict was sometimes also referred to as the Franco-American War, the Pirate Wars, or the Half-War.-Background:The Kingdom of France had been a...
with France makes the political intentions of the publication especially apparent. This exclusion would have focused political energy against the British, with whom America was at war at the time of the book’s publication on May 6, 1813.
Focus on the British, known around the world for their naval dominance, made an influential case for extending the reach of the American navy. Along with his publication of Naval History, another of Carey’s works, Olive Branch, was published 1814. This work was primarily an effort to eliminate competition between the two American parties, creating unity against the British for the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. These efforts, and his early relationship with Franklin, made him the logical choice as Franklin's political successor in many people's eyes. His efforts and publications are thought to have significantly influenced the to the establishment of the United States Whig Party.
Family
His daughter, Frances Anne Carey (1799–1873), married Isaac LeaIsaac Lea
Isaac Lea was an American conchologist, geologist, and businessman, who was born in Wilmington, Delaware.-Life:...
, who joined his publishing firm.
Legacy
In 1943, Publishers WeeklyPublishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly, aka PW, is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers and literary agents...
created the Carey-Thomas Award for creative publishing, naming it honor of Mathew Carey and Isaiah Thomas
Isaiah Thomas
Isaiah Thomas , was an American newspaper publisher and author. He performed the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence in Worcester, Massachusetts and reported the first account of the Battles of Lexington and Concord...
.
External links
- Mathew Carey's A short account of the malignant fever, lately prevalent in Philadelphia (1793)
- Mathew Carey's Appeal to the Wealthy of the Land, Ladies as Well as Gentlemen, on the Character, Conduct, Situation, and Prospects of Those Whose Sole Dependence for Subsistence Is on the Labour of Their Hands (1833)
- Indiana Historical Society, biographical sketch of Mathew Carey associated with a September 1804 letter in its Manuscript and Visual Collections Department
- The American museum, or Universal magazine, vols. 2-10 (1787-1791) at Internet Archive
- The Autobiography of Mathew Carey in 26 Letters to The New-England MagazineThe New-England MagazineThe New-England Magazine was a monthly literary magazine published in Boston, Massachusetts from 1831 to 1835.The magazine was published by Joseph T. Buckingham and his son Edwin. The first edition was published in July 1831, and it published a total of 48 editions...
Sources
- Carter, Edward C. "Mathew Carey, Advocate of American Naval Power." The American Neptune, XXVI (1966).
- Clark, Thomas. Naval History of the United States. Philadelphia:Mathew Carey, 1814.
- Carter, Michael S. "Under the Benign Sun of Toleration: Mathew Carey, the Douai Bible, and Catholic Print Culture, 1789-1791," Journal of the Early Republic, Fall 2007.