Benjamin Harris (publisher) facts for kids

Benjamin Harris lived from about 1673 to 1716. He was an English publisher who later moved to America and became an early journalist. He is famous for publishing The New England Primer, which was the first textbook in British America. He also edited the first multi-page newspaper in America, called Publick Occurrences Both Forreign and Domestick, which started on September 25, 1690.

Benjamin Harris: A Pioneer Publisher

Benjamin Harris began his career in London around 1673. He published many books, pamphlets, and a newspaper that supported a political group called the Whigs. These publications often criticized the government or the king's supporters.

Early Life and Publishing in London

In 1679, Harris published a pamphlet called Appeal from the Country to the City. This pamphlet was against James, Duke of York becoming the next king. Because of this, Harris was found guilty of speaking out against the government and was ordered to pay a large fine he couldn't afford. After being released from prison, he continued to publish articles that challenged authority. From 1679 to 1681, he published a paper called Domestick Intelligence: Or News both from City and Country. This paper was one of the first to include local news.

Moving to America and New Ideas

In 1686, Benjamin Harris moved to Boston, a major city in America at the time. There, he opened the London Coffee House. This was a special place where both men and women could read foreign newspapers and books, which was quite unusual back then.

After publishing The New-England Primer (around 1690) and Tulley’s Almanach, Harris decided to start a newspaper.

The First American Newspaper

His newspaper, Publick Occurrences Both Forreign and Domestick, had three pages of news. The fourth page was left blank so people could write their own news and share it around. This newspaper focused on local events and even included some gossip. One story was about King William's War and events involving Native American forces.

However, Harris did not have official permission to publish his newspaper. Because of this, it was shut down after just one issue, and Harris was put in jail. The next American newspaper didn't appear until 1704.

Later Years and Legacy

From 1690 to 1695, Harris continued to run his coffeehouse and publish books in Boston. He worked with a partner named John Allen. In 1692, he was given the important job of printing the official laws of Massachusetts. Benjamin Harris also helped his community by supporting homeless shelters and orphanages.

He returned to London in 1695. There, he started several newspapers, including the London Post, which he published from 1699 to 1706. He sold his papers, books, and almanacs from his printing shop. We don't know exactly when or where Benjamin Harris died. He was married and had two sons.