Nathaniel Willis (1755-1831)
Encyclopedia
Nathaniel Willis was a publisher and editor in the late 18th century. He participated in the Boston Tea Party
in 1773. He issued the Independent Chronicle
(1776-1784) and the American Herald
in Boston
, Massachusetts
, and worked for some years with Edward Eveleth Powars
as "Powars & Willis."
"In 1784 he sold his interest in the "Independent Chronicle," and became one of the pioneer journalists of the unsettled West. He removed first to Winchester, Virginia
, where he published a paper for a short time; then to Shepardstown, where he also published a paper; and thence in 1790 to Martinsburg, Virginia
, where he founded the Potomac Guardian and edited it till 1796. In that year he went to Chillicothe, Ohio
, and established the Scioto Gazette, the first newspaper in what was then known as the Northwestern Territory. He was printer to the government of the territory, and afterwards held an agency in the Post Office Department. He bought and cultivated a farm near Chillicothe, on which he ended his days April 1, 1831."
Willis married "Lucy Douglas, of New London, Connecticut;" children included Nathaniel Willis
, also a newspaperman.
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a direct action by colonists in Boston, a town in the British colony of Massachusetts, against the British government and the monopolistic East India Company that controlled all the tea imported into the colonies...
in 1773. He issued the Independent Chronicle
Independent Chronicle (Boston, Massachusetts)
The Independent Chronicle was a newspaper in Boston, Massachusetts. It originated in 1768 as The Essex Gazette in Salem, and The New-England Chronicle in Cambridge, before settling in 1776 in Boston as The Independent Chronicle. Publishers included Edward E...
(1776-1784) and the American Herald
American Herald
The American Herald was a newspaper in Boston and Worcester, Massachusetts, published by Edward Eveleth Powars and Nathaniel Willis.-Variant titles:* The American Herald: and the General Advertiser The American Herald (1784-1790) was a newspaper in Boston and Worcester, Massachusetts, published by...
in 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...
, and worked for some years with Edward Eveleth Powars
Edward Eveleth Powars
Edward Eveleth Powars was a printer in Boston and Worcester, Massachusetts, in the late 18th century. He published the Independent Chronicle , the Boston Evening-Post , the American Herald , and The Argus...
as "Powars & Willis."
"In 1784 he sold his interest in the "Independent Chronicle," and became one of the pioneer journalists of the unsettled West. He removed first to Winchester, Virginia
Winchester, Virginia
Winchester is an independent city located in the northwestern portion of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the USA. The city's population was 26,203 according to the 2010 Census...
, where he published a paper for a short time; then to Shepardstown, where he also published a paper; and thence in 1790 to Martinsburg, Virginia
Martinsburg, West Virginia
Martinsburg is a city in the Eastern Panhandle region of West Virginia, United States. The city's population was 14,972 at the 2000 census; according to a 2009 Census Bureau estimate, Martinsburg's population was 17,117, making it the largest city in the Eastern Panhandle and the eighth largest...
, where he founded the Potomac Guardian and edited it till 1796. In that year he went to Chillicothe, Ohio
Chillicothe, Ohio
Chillicothe is a city in and the county seat of Ross County, Ohio, United States.Chillicothe was the first and third capital of Ohio and is located in southern Ohio along the Scioto River. The name comes from the Shawnee name Chalahgawtha, meaning "principal town", as it was a major settlement of...
, and established the Scioto Gazette, the first newspaper in what was then known as the Northwestern Territory. He was printer to the government of the territory, and afterwards held an agency in the Post Office Department. He bought and cultivated a farm near Chillicothe, on which he ended his days April 1, 1831."
Willis married "Lucy Douglas, of New London, Connecticut;" children included Nathaniel Willis
Nathaniel Willis (1780-1870)
Nathaniel Willis was an editor and publisher in Boston, Massachusetts, in the 19th century. He established the Eastern Argus and the Boston Recorder newspapers, and The Youth's Companion magazine.-Biography:...
, also a newspaperman.
See also
- Independent Chronicle (Boston, Massachusetts)Independent Chronicle (Boston, Massachusetts)The Independent Chronicle was a newspaper in Boston, Massachusetts. It originated in 1768 as The Essex Gazette in Salem, and The New-England Chronicle in Cambridge, before settling in 1776 in Boston as The Independent Chronicle. Publishers included Edward E...
, published by Willis - American HeraldAmerican HeraldThe American Herald was a newspaper in Boston and Worcester, Massachusetts, published by Edward Eveleth Powars and Nathaniel Willis.-Variant titles:* The American Herald: and the General Advertiser The American Herald (1784-1790) was a newspaper in Boston and Worcester, Massachusetts, published by...
, published by Willis - John Morgan. A Vindication of his Public Character in the Station of Director-General of the Military Hospitals, and Physician in Chief to the American Army: Anno 1776, published by Powars and Willis
External links
- WorldCat
- http://www.boston-tea-party.org/participants/Nathaniel-Willis.html