Newfoundland Mercantile Journal, Newfoundland, Alexander Haire and Robert Lee, 1816
Front page of a later edition of the Newfoundland Mercantile Journal, the second newspaper in Newfoundland. Dated September 11, 1816. Source: Memorial University of Newfoundland – Digital Archives Initiative. Retrieved November 8, 2021. https://collections.mun.ca/digital/collection/nl_mercantile/id/4/rec/1
Notes
After John Ryan established The Royal Gazette in 1807, it remained the only newspaper until 1815. At that time Newfoundland did not have its own legislature and was ruled by appointed British naval governors and no newspaper could be published without the consent of the governor. Successive governors failed to give their consent and even Haire and Lee were turned down, when in 1813 they first tried to set up their newspaper.
However, in 1814, things changed. In a major step forward for freedom of the press in Newfoundland and Labrador, lawyers in London advised the governor of Newfoundland, Sir Richard Keats, that he could no longer obstruct the establishment of further newspapers and printing presses.
In 1815, therefore, Alexander Haire and Robert Lee were finallly granted permission to publish the Newfoundland Mercantile Journal.
References:
Devereux, E.J., Early Printing in Newfoundland, 1963
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Category
Early Printing and TypeTitle
Newfoundland Mercantile Journal, Newfoundland, Alexander Haire and Robert Lee, 1816
Date
1816Credits
Printers: Alexander Haire and Robert LeePrincipal Typefaces
unknownDescription
Newspaper
Size: unknownRegion
NewfoundlandLanguage
EnglishImages
1Holding
Memorial University of Newfoundland – Digital Archives -
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