Samuel Loudon

1727 (age 86)

Ireland

Loudon emigrated to America some time before 1753. In October of that year he was proprietor of a store opposite the Old Slip Market in New York City, where his stock in trade included speaking trumpets, pots and kettles, powder and shot, and "a parcel of ready-made coats and breeches, in the newest fashion". Four years later he had changed his location to Hunter's Quay and was calling himself a ship-chandler. His correspondence with Philip Schuyler of Albany during the years 1769-1774 shows that he was one of several who had invested money in the "Saratoga patent" in upper New York, seeking a profit by dividing it into lots and selling to Scotch immigrants. Another of his ventures, undertaken in 1771, is disclosed by an advertisement of "A Book Store just Opened", with which he later combined "Samuel Loudon's Circulating Library". Soon after the outbreak of the Revolution he began, January 4, 1776, the publication of The New York Packet and the American Advertiser, a weekly newspaper. Stanch patriot though he was, he fell into disfavor with the radical Committee of Mechanics in the city when, in March, he started to issue The Deceiver Unmasked; or Loyalty and Interest United, written anonymously as an answer to Paine's Common Sense. He was warned not to publish the pamphlet and promised to proceed no further with it at that time. Nevertheless, on March 19 his printing office was invaded and 1, 500 impressions carried away and burned. (A pamphlet preserved in the New York Historical Society bears the inscription "This copy was saved. ") Always a keen observer of his balance sheet, he bitterly bewailed this misfortune which, he said, represented a £75 loss. In an open letter "To the Public" he strongly avowed his patriotism and resented the affront to the freedom of the press at a time when the question of independence was still a debatable matter. The following week he advertised as "necessary at the present time for all families who have the good of their country at heart" a pamphlet, Essays upon the Making of Salt-Petre and Gun-Powder, just published by order of the Committee of Safety of the Colony. The arrival of the British forces at New York necessitated the suspension of the Packet and the removal of Loudon's numerous family to a place of safety. After a brief period as a merchant in Norwich, Connecticut, he opened a store and printery at Fishkill, New York, and resumed publication of the Packet, January 16, 1777. Regularity of issue was at times interrupted by shortage of paper, but he kept the news sheet going during the remainder of the Revolution. Furthermore, he was state printer and for a time postmaster at Fishkill. The British gone, he moved back to New York City, reopened his printery, resumed publication of the Packet as a biweekly, and started again his bookshop and circulating library. In 1786 he printed Laws of the State of New York, in one volume, also Noah Webster's shortlived periodical, the American Magazine. In 1792 the Packet became the Diary or Loudon's Register.

Samuel Loudon

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merchant printer publisher

Background

Samuel Loudon was born around 1727 probably in Ireland of Scotch-Irish ancestry.

Career

Loudon emigrated to America some time before 1753. In October of that year he was proprietor of a store opposite the Old Slip Market in New York City, where his stock in trade included speaking trumpets, pots and kettles, powder and shot, and "a parcel of ready-made coats and breeches, in the newest fashion". Four years later he had changed his location to Hunter's Quay and was calling himself a ship-chandler. His correspondence with Philip Schuyler of Albany during the years 1769-1774 shows that he was one of several who had invested money in the "Saratoga patent" in upper New York, seeking a profit by dividing it into lots and selling to Scotch immigrants. Another of his ventures, undertaken in 1771, is disclosed by an advertisement of "A Book Store just Opened", with which he later combined "Samuel Loudon's Circulating Library".

Soon after the outbreak of the Revolution he began, January 4, 1776, the publication of The New York Packet and the American Advertiser, a weekly newspaper. Stanch patriot though he was, he fell into disfavor with the radical Committee of Mechanics in the city when, in March, he started to issue The Deceiver Unmasked; or Loyalty and Interest United, written anonymously as an answer to Paine's Common Sense. He was warned not to publish the pamphlet and promised to proceed no further with it at that time. Nevertheless, on March 19 his printing office was invaded and 1, 500 impressions carried away and burned. (A pamphlet preserved in the New York Historical Society bears the inscription "This copy was saved. ") Always a keen observer of his balance sheet, he bitterly bewailed this misfortune which, he said, represented a £75 loss.

In an open letter "To the Public" he strongly avowed his patriotism and resented the affront to the freedom of the press at a time when the question of independence was still a debatable matter. The following week he advertised as "necessary at the present time for all families who have the good of their country at heart" a pamphlet, Essays upon the Making of Salt-Petre and Gun-Powder, just published by order of the Committee of Safety of the Colony. The arrival of the British forces at New York necessitated the suspension of the Packet and the removal of Loudon's numerous family to a place of safety.

After a brief period as a merchant in Norwich, Connecticut, he opened a store and printery at Fishkill, New York, and resumed publication of the Packet, January 16, 1777. Regularity of issue was at times interrupted by shortage of paper, but he kept the news sheet going during the remainder of the Revolution. Furthermore, he was state printer and for a time postmaster at Fishkill.

The British gone, he moved back to New York City, reopened his printery, resumed publication of the Packet as a biweekly, and started again his bookshop and circulating library. In 1786 he printed Laws of the State of New York, in one volume, also Noah Webster's shortlived periodical, the American Magazine. In 1792 the Packet became the Diary or Loudon's Register.

Achievements

Samuel Loudon was well known as the founder of two important periodicals: The New York Packet and the American Advertiser. He was also responsible for printing the first constitution of the State of New York (1777), and several issues of state paper money.

Religion

Loudon was an elder in the Scotch Presbyterian Church.

Personality

Quotes from others about the person

"To good and evil equal bent, He's both a Devil and a Saint".

Connections

Loudon was twice married: first, January 24, 1756, to Sarah Oakes, and second (before 1768), to Lydia Griswold, sister of Governor Matthew Griswold of Connecticut. He had five sons and three daughters.

Spouse:: Lydia Griswold
Spouse:: Sarah Oakes

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Samuel Loudon

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