History
The paper had its origins in the American Minerva, founded in 1793 by Noah Webster. Its first edition was published on December 9, 1793. It went through a few name changes in its first few years before settling on the Commercial Advertiser in September 1797. Webster's involvement with the paper ended in 1803, and Zachariah Lewis replaced him as publisher. Under Webster and Lewis, the paper generally was a supporter of the Federalists.
Lewis retired in 1820 and the paper taken over by William Leete Stone, Sr. and Francis Hall. In 1831, Stone was physically attacked by William Cullen Bryant, editor of the rival New York Evening Post with whom he had had a few disputes. Stone remained at the paper until his death in 1844. In 1840, Stone was sued in one of the libel lawsuits brought by author James Fenimore Cooper.
John B. Hall purchased Stone's stake in the paper. Francis Hall served as editor from 1844 until he retired in 1863, and William L. Hurlbut became editor from 1863-67. Thurlow Weed then became editor briefly, followed by Hugh Hastings by 1868. In 1886, Parke Godwin purchased the paper from the estate of Hastings.
John A. Cockerill, former editor of the New York World, took over as editor of the paper in 1891, where he lasted three years. H.J. Wright took over as editor in 1897, replacing Foster Coates.
Read more about this topic: Commercial Advertiser
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