Samuel Cornish
Encyclopedia
Samuel Eli Cornish was an American abolitionist, journalist
, and Presbyterian minister.
, to free parents. In 1815, he moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. After moving to New York City
in 1821, Cornish organized a congregation of black Presbyterians.
and the American Missionary Society.
Cornish was one of the founding members of the American Anti-Slavery Society
, remaining with the Society from 1833 to 1840. In 1840, Cornish left the American Anti-Slavery Society to join the newly formed American and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society
, largely over disputes with William Lloyd Garrison
over religion in the Abolitionist movement. Cornish used his position as a journalist and editor to inform the public on the issues involving Abolitionism.
Samuel Cornish and John Russwurm started the first black newspaper in March 1827, calling it Freedom's Journal
. Cornish left Freedom's Journal in September 1827. He returned to the paper in 1829, after the journal was in decline due to Russwurm's editorship; changing the name of the journal to The Rights of All
. Cornish later was editor for Colored American
from 1837 to 1839.
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, and Presbyterian minister.
Early years
Cornish was born in Sussex County, DelawareSussex County, Delaware
Sussex County is a county located in the southern part of the U.S. state of Delaware. As of 2010 the population was 197,145, an increase of 25.9% over the previous decade. The county seat is Georgetown. The Seaford Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Sussex County.Sussex County is...
, to free parents. In 1815, he moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
. After moving to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1821, Cornish organized a congregation of black Presbyterians.
Career
When he was ordained in 1822, this parish was officially established as the New Demeter Street Presbyterian Church, making it the first black Presbyterian Church in New York City. He later ministered at the First African Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, and'Emmanuel Church in New York City. Cornish held high-ranking positions within the American Bible SocietyAmerican Bible Society
The American Bible Society is an interconfessional, non-denominational, nonprofit organization, founded in 1816 in New York City, which publishes, distributes and translates the Bible and provides study aids and other tools to help people engage with the Bible.It is probably best known for its...
and the American Missionary Society.
Cornish was one of the founding members of the American Anti-Slavery Society
American Anti-Slavery Society
The American Anti-Slavery Society was an abolitionist society founded by William Lloyd Garrison and Arthur Tappan. Frederick Douglass was a key leader of this society and often spoke at its meetings. William Wells Brown was another freed slave who often spoke at meetings. By 1838, the society had...
, remaining with the Society from 1833 to 1840. In 1840, Cornish left the American Anti-Slavery Society to join the newly formed American and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society
American and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society
The American and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society split off from the American Anti-Slavery Society in 1840 over a number of issues, including the increasing influence of anarchism , hostility to established religion, and feminism in the latter...
, largely over disputes with William Lloyd Garrison
William Lloyd Garrison
William Lloyd Garrison was a prominent American abolitionist, journalist, and social reformer. He is best known as the editor of the abolitionist newspaper The Liberator, and as one of the founders of the American Anti-Slavery Society, he promoted "immediate emancipation" of slaves in the United...
over religion in the Abolitionist movement. Cornish used his position as a journalist and editor to inform the public on the issues involving Abolitionism.
Samuel Cornish and John Russwurm started the first black newspaper in March 1827, calling it Freedom's Journal
Freedom's Journal
Freedom's Journal was the first African American owned and operated newspaper published in the United States. Published weekly in New York City from 16 March 1827 to 28 March 1829, the journal was edited by John Russwurm and co-editor, Samuel Cornish who contributed only through 14 September 1827...
. Cornish left Freedom's Journal in September 1827. He returned to the paper in 1829, after the journal was in decline due to Russwurm's editorship; changing the name of the journal to The Rights of All
The Rights of All
The Rights of All was a short-lived American abolitionist newspaper founded by Samuel Cornish. The newspaper replaced Freedom's Journal and carried a serious of important articles known as Walker's Appeal championing slave rebellion....
. Cornish later was editor for Colored American
Colored American
The Colored American was a name used by two 19th century weekly African-American newspapers: one that was published in New York City from 1836 to 1842 by Samuel Cornish, Phillip Bell, and Charles Bennett Ray, and one that was published in Washington, D.C. from 1893 to 1904...
from 1837 to 1839.