Poulson's town and country almanac, for the year of our Lord .. Volume 1800
(This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. T...)
This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book.
Zachariah Poulson was an American publisher and philanthropist.
Background
He was born on September 5, 1761 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. His mother, Anna Barbara Stollenberger, had come to America from Germany with her parents eight years before her marriage to Zachariah Poulson, Sr. The latter, born in Copenhagen, Denmark, had been brought by his father to Philadelphia, where he learned printing in the office of the second Christopher Sower. Later he became one of the leaders among the Moravian Brethren.
The younger Poulson spent his formative years in the atmosphere of the printing house at a time when the press of Philadelphia was reflecting every phase of the struggle of the colonies for independence. He wrote later, "James Humphreys was to have taught me printing. Before I was bound he was necessitated to fly on account of the troubles which then agitated our country. After his materials were packed up and secreted, I went with my Father to Hall and Seller's office, where we remained until the first rumor of the approach of the British army. We then worked with Joseph Crukshank until they [the British] took possession of the city, when we returned to James Humphreys and remained with him until it was evacuated. After its evacuation, we went again to Joseph Crukshank. While here we experienced all the hardships which malicious neighbors and unfeeling fine-collectors could occasion. As my father could not, from religious motives, pay militia fines, his property was sacrificed in the most wanton manner. "
Education
There is no information about his education.
Career
Not until 1785 did the young printer meet with even a modicum of success. Then began his connection with the Philadelphia Library Company which was to continue for nearly fifty-nine years. For twenty-one years he was its librarian, for six years its treasurer, and for thirty-two years a director.
Meanwhile he began to prosper in the printing business. Among the many valuable works he published were Poulson's Town and Country Almanac, 1788-1801 (continued by J. Bioren); Robert Proud's History of Pennsylvania (2 vols. , 1797 - 98) and others. He printed in folio the Minutes of the convention which was appointed to revise and amend the constitution of the state in 1789, and was for many years printer to the Senate of Pennsylvania.
In 1800 he purchased Claypoole's American Daily Advertiser, successor of the Pennsylvania Packet, the first daily newspaper in the United States. For some time it had been the official organ of the government. Poulson moved its office to his residence, No. 106 Chestnut St. , opposite the Bank of North America, changed its name to Poulson's American Daily Advertiser, and continued its editor and publisher until December 28, 1839, when it was sold to the owners of the North American and passed out of existence. During all these years it remained essentially an "Advertiser, " with about twenty-two columns of advertisements to six of reading matter.