Catherine Finn facts for kids

Catherine Finn (born around 1749 – died 1832) was an amazing Irish businesswoman. She was a printer and owned a popular newspaper called Finn's Leinster Journal.

A Pioneer in Publishing

Catherine Finn was born Catherine Butler around the year 1749. Her father, Michael Butler, was also a printer in Kilkenny, Ireland. This meant she grew up around printing presses and newspapers.

Catherine married Edmund Finn, who was also a printer. Edmund started a newspaper called Finn's Leinster Journal. This newspaper was very important for sharing news and information in their area.

Taking Over the Family Business

In 1777, Catherine's husband, Edmund, passed away. This was a difficult time, as Catherine now had seven children to raise. But she was also a very strong and capable woman. She decided to take over the family printing business and keep Finn's Leinster Journal going.

Catherine ran the entire printing company by herself. She managed everything until 1805. This was a huge achievement for a woman in the 1700s and early 1800s.

What Catherine Finn Did

Running a newspaper and printing business was a lot of work! Catherine had many important jobs:

• She sold space for advertisements in the newspaper. Businesses would pay to have their products or services promoted.
• She organized the news and stories that went into the paper. This is called editorial content.
• She oversaw the actual printing of the newspaper.
• She made sure the newspapers were delivered to people. This is called distribution.

The Finn family business also sold other things. They were local agents for special health products, like "Antiscorbutic Drops." These were medicines that people believed helped with certain health issues. They also sold a wide variety of books, school textbooks, and magazines from their shop in Kilkenny.

In 1783, Catherine Finn was even listed as an agent for an insurance company. This shows how trusted and well-known she was in the business world. Catherine Finn lived to be 83 years old, passing away in 1832. She left behind a legacy as a successful businesswoman and a pioneer in publishing.

See also

• List of women printers and publishers before 1800