Brief History
The paper was started as a rival to The Boston News-Letter, the first successful newspaper in the Colonies, which had begun its long run in 1704. In 1741 the Boston Gazette incorporated the New-England Weekly Journal and became the Boston-Gazette, or New-England Weekly Journal. Contributors included: Samuel Adams, Paul Revere, Phyllis Wheatley.
Publishers, and men acting their behalf, included: (dates are approximate)
- James Franklin (1719)
- William Brooker (1719)
- Philip Musgrave (1720)
- Thomas Lewis (1725–1726)
- Henry Marshall (1726–1727)
- Bartholomew Green (1727–1732)
- John Boydell (d. Dec. 11, 1739) (1732–1736)
- Timothy Green (1736–1741)
- Samuel Kneeland (1720–1753)
- John Gill (1755–1775) DAR Patriot # A044675
- Benjamin Edes (1755–1794)
- Benjamin Edes, Jr. (1779–1794)
- Peter Edes (1779-ca.1784)
The paper's masthead vignette, produced by Paul Revere shows a seated Britannia with Liberty cap on staff, freeing a bird from a cage. Motto: "Containing the freshest Advices, Foreign and Domestic" This issue is often reprinted.
"After the Revolution lost its great contributors and its tone and policy were changes. It bitterly opposed the adoption of the constitution of the United States and the administration of Washington. The paper declined in power, interest and popular favor, till, after a long struggle, in 1798, it was discontinued for want of support."
Read more about this topic: Boston Gazette
Famous quotes containing the word history:
“All history and art are against us, but we still expect happiness in love.”
—Mason Cooley (b. 1927)
“No cause is left but the most ancient of all, the one, in fact, that from the beginning of our history has determined the very existence of politics, the cause of freedom versus tyranny.”
—Hannah Arendt (1906–1975)