''The North American'' was an American newspaper published in

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sin ...

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; (Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

. It was founded in 1839, though it could claim a lineage back to 1771, and published until 1925, when it was purchased by the owner of the rival '' Public Ledger''.

History

The ''North American'', a daily newspaper in Philadelphia, was first published on March 26, 1839, by S.C. Brace and T.R. Newbold.About The North American
Chronicling America (Library of Congress), Retrieved February 21, 2012 (entry for first iteration of the ''North American'') At the end of the year, the paper absorbed Zachariah Poulson's ''Poulson's American Daily Advertiser'', the direct descendant of

John Dunlap John Dunlap (1747 – 27 November 1812) was an early American printer who emigrated from Ireland and who printed the first copies of the United States Declaration of Independence and was one of the most successful Irish/American printers of his ...

's ''

Pennsylvania Packet The ''Pennsylvania Packet and the General Advertiser'' was an American newspaper founded in 1771 that, in 1784, became the first successful daily newspaper published in the United States. The paper was founded by John Dunlap as a weekly paper in ...

'', the country's first successful daily paper,Scharf, J. Thomas and Wescott, Thompson
History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884, Volume 3
p. 1966-68 (1884) and on January 1, 1840, publishing under a new name: ''The North American and Daily Advertiser''.About The North American and daily advertiser
Chronicling America (Library of Congress), Retrieved February 21, 2012 (entry for ''The North American and Daily Advertiser'') Later that year, the paper was acquired by C.G. Childs and J. Reese Fry, along with the ''Commercial Herald''. In October 1845, the paper was acquired by George R. Graham, well known as the publisher of ''

Graham's Magazine ''Graham's Magazine'' was a nineteenth-century periodical based in Philadelphia established by George Rex Graham and published from 1840 to 1858. It was alternatively referred to as ''Graham's Lady's and Gentleman's Magazine'' (1841–1842, and J ...

'', and

Alexander Cummings Alexander Cumming FRSE (sometimes referred to as Alexander Cummings; 1733 – 8 March 1814) was a Scottish watchmaker and instrument inventor, who was the first to patent a design of the flush toilet in 1775, which had been pioneered by Sir Jo ...

, who went on to found the ''

New York World The ''New York World'' was a newspaper published in New York City from 1860 until 1931. The paper played a major role in the history of American newspapers. It was a leading national voice of the Democratic Party. From 1883 to 1911 under publi ...

''. Hudson, Frederic
Journalism in the United States from 1690 to 1872
pp. 183-84 (1873)The life and dramatic works of Robert Montgomery Bird
pp.133-38 (1919) The "Daily Advertiser" suffix was also dropped.About The North American. (Philadelphia, Pa.) 1845-1847
Chronicling America (Library of Congress), Retrieved February 21, 2012 (entry for the ''North American'' from 1845-47) Cummings soon departed over political differences, and

Morton McMichael Morton McMichael (October 2, 1807 – January 6, 1879) was a newspaper publisher, civic leader and politician from Philadelphia. As the publisher of '' The North American'', he was active in public affairs and chaired the Executive Consolida ...

joined Graham as publisher in January 1847. At that point, it was an influential Whig newspaper. In July of that year, writer and playwright

Robert Montgomery Bird Robert Montgomery Bird (February 5, 1806 – January 23, 1854) was an American novelist, playwright, and physician. Early life and education Bird was born in New Castle, Delaware on February 5, 1806.Ehrlich, Eugene and Gorton Carruth. ''The Oxfor ...

was brought in as a one-third owner, and the paper was merged with the ''United States Gazette'', another Whig paper in town. The paper was redubbed as the ''North American and United States Gazette''.About North American and United States gazette. (Philadelphia, Pa.) 1847-1876
Chronicling America (Library of Congress), Retrieved February 21, 2012George R. Graham. Philadelphia Publisher
''

Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography The ''Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography'' is a peer-reviewed academic journal covering the history of Pennsylvania. It has been published by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania since 1877. Issues from January 2006 forward are availa ...

'' (Vol. 75, No. 3, July 1951) Graham left the paper in 1848, and McMichael and Bird became the driving forces in making the paper a journalistic and financial success. After Bird died in 1854, McMichael continued as the sole owner until his death in 1879. The paper was a staunch supporter of

Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln ( ; February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was an American lawyer, politician, and statesman who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. Lincoln led the nation throu ...

, as it developed to become a supporter of the Republican party.Robinson, Elwyn B
The North American: Advocate of Protection
''

'' (Vol. 64, No. 3, July 1940, pp. 345-55) The "United States Gazette" suffix was dropped from the paper's name in 1876. McMichael's two sons assumed control of the paper in his final years,Bloom, Robert L
Morton McMichael's North American
''

'' (Vol. 77, No. 2, April 1953)(7 January 1879)
Death of Morton McMichael
''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' Baltzell, E. Digby
Philadelphia Gentlemen: The Making of a National Upper Class
p. 138-39 (1958) his son Clayton assuming chief editorial duties.(18 April 1906)

''

'' In 1899, the paper was acquired by Thomas B. Wanamaker, son of

John Wanamaker John Wanamaker (July 11, 1838December 12, 1922) was an American merchant and religious, civic and political figure, considered by some to be a proponent of advertising and a "pioneer in marketing". He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a ...

.(12 May 1900)
WANAMAKER CHARGES ATTEMPTED BLACKMAIL
''

''Backbone vs. Wishbone
''

Pearson's Magazine (US) ''Pearson's Magazine'' was a monthly periodical that first appeared in Britain in 1896. A US version began publication in 1899. It specialised in speculative literature, political discussion, often of a socialist bent, and the arts. Its contribu ...

'' (July 1911)(3 March 1908)
Dies in Paris Hotel: Thomas B. Wanamaker Suddenly Passes Away
''Fredericksburg Daily Star''(27 November 1932).
Van Valkenburg, Journalist, Dead
''

''(26 January 1899)
Philadelphia North American Sold
''

'' In 1925,

Cyrus Curtis Cyrus Hermann Kotzschmar Curtis (June 18, 1850June 7, 1933) was an American publisher of magazines and newspapers, including the ''Ladies' Home Journal'' and ''The Saturday Evening Post''.Ingham, John N. Biographical Dictionary of American Business ...

, owner of the '' Public Ledger'', acquired the ''North American'' from Thomas B. Wanamaker's estate as part of his bid to grow the ''Ledger'' by shutting down some of its competitors.Hepp, John Henry
The middle-class city: transforming space and time in Philadelphia, 1876-1926
(2003)(14 May 1925)

''

''(15 May 1925). ttps://www.nytimes.com/1925/05/15/archives/the-north-american-sold-will-be-merged-with-public-ledger-tabloid.html The North American Sold ''

'' The Ledger adopted the official title ''Public Ledger and North American'' (with the latter in small font, of course), until late 1927.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:North American, The Publications established in 1839 Publications disestablished in 1925 Defunct newspapers of Philadelphia

History

See also

References