(This reproduction was printed from a digital file created...)
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Thomas Ritchie was born on November 5, 1778 in Tappahannock, Essex County, Virginia. His father, Archibald Ritchie - a Scotch immigrant, the community's chief business man, and an effective if tardy supporter of the American Revolution - died early in the life of Thomas.
His mother, Mary (Roane) Ritchie, unsuccessfully set him to reading, first law under his cousin, Spencer Roane, and then medicine in Philadelphia. Disgusted with both subjects and believing in universal education, he turned enthusiastically and successfully to teaching in Fredericksburg, simultaneously reading widely in the classics of economics and politics.
When his health failed under the double strain he set up a small bookstore in Richmond (1803). Then opportunity came. The Republican newspaper in Richmond had ceased publication; Judge Roane wanted another, and President Jefferson would help with federal printing. Accordingly, with eloquent professions of unbounded zeal for independent and honorable service through a new form of public education, Ritchie brought out the Enquirer, May 9, 1804.
The paper was a complete success. For forty-one years he continued it (later as the Richmond Enquirer), thrice a week with occasional "extras" after 1806, himself writing the ringing editorials, culling the news intelligently and doing most of the reporting, keeping it morally clean and free from abusive language, sometimes helped and sometimes hindered by partners but always dominating it, making it a power in the land.
On July 1, 1807, he was secretary of a Richmond mass meeting, which the Enquirer had promoted, in protest against British outrages, and soon was marching to Norfolk with the Republican Blues; later he served briefly in the War of 1812.
In 1814 the legislature elected him state printer, a lucrative position which he deemed only reasonable compensation for the Enquirer's services and which he continued to hold by legislative favor for twenty-five years, with the exception of a short interval in 1834.
Men were now talking of the "Richmond Junto, " which included Ritchie and his Essex cousins, Spencer Roane and Dr. John Brockenbrough of the Virginia State Bank. Combining the complementary functions of editor and political manager, Ritchie was secretary of the Republican (Democratic) central committee, while the Enquirer was becoming the "Democratic Bible. " Believing democratic reform in representation and suffrage necessary and right, he ardently favored the state constitutional convention of 1829; and he edited and published its Debates with care and pride.
He favored public schools, also, and extensive state internal improvements. Thenceforth western Virginia backed him consistently. In national politics Ritchie's influence rested first on an alliance with Van Buren, whom he sincerely liked and in whose interest he published another Richmond paper, the Crisis, in 1840. This combination, he thought, preserved the Virginia "principles of '98, '99" against the corrupting influence of Henry Clay and the divisive tactics of John C. Calhoun, whose nullification and Southern-party policies he frankly opposed; but, far from subservient, he urged his own ideas on banking, denounced abolitionists even while urging gradual emancipation, and in 1844 supported Polk for president because ever since the Missouri Compromise (which he had opposed) he had deemed annexation of Texas a necessity for the South.
From 1845 to 1851, with considerable reluctance, he conducted in Washington the Union, a national administration organ established at Polk's request. But, though he greatly aided the compromise measures of 1850, the public would no longer be taught by him.
The Enquirer was firmly established and continued to be powerful even though his sons, one of whom fought a famous duel with John H. Pleasants, the editor of the rival Richmond Whig, lacked his journalistic ability. His last years were divided between Washington and "Brandon, " the home of a married daughter on the James, where he indulged an old fondness for gardens, poetry, and children.
Though he held no public office, his funeral in Washington was attended by the nation's great.
(This reproduction was printed from a digital file created...)
Late in his life, Ritchie denounced abolitionists but supported gradual emancipation.
He was a tall, lean, quick-moving man, with brillant eyes and striking profile, always clinging to the old low shoes and silk stockings, secretary of all the public meetings, toastmaster of the dinners, leader of the dances, welcomer of distinguished guests, the state's "Father Ritchie, " his intimates' "Tom Ritchie. "
Already a successful man, on Feburary 11, 1807, he married Isabella, daughter of Dr. William Foushee, a progressive Richmonder and "war hawk. " They had twelve children.
