Clementina Rind facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Clementina Rind
|
|
|---|---|
statue of Clementina Rind at the Virginia Women's Monument
|
|
| Born | ca. 1740 |
| Died | September 25, 1774 Williamsburg, Va.
|
| Occupation | Printer |
| Known for | First female newspaper printer and publisher in Virginia. |
| Spouse(s) | William Rind |
Clementina Rind (born around 1740, died September 25, 1774) was an amazing woman from early American history. She became the very first female newspaper printer and publisher in Virginia. Clementina lived and worked in Williamsburg. After her husband, William Rind, passed away in 1773, she bravely took over his printing business. Clementina kept printing The Virginia Gazette newspaper. She also published an important paper by Thomas Jefferson called A Summary View of the Rights of British America.
Clementina Rind's Early Life
We don't know much about Clementina's early life. She was born around 1740, possibly in Maryland. Between 1762 and 1765, she married William Rind. He was a printer in Maryland. William worked with another printer, Jonas Green, on a newspaper called Maryland Gazette.
In October 1765, The Maryland Gazette stopped printing for a while. This was a protest against the Stamp Act. This law made people pay extra taxes on printed papers. After this, the Rinds moved to Williamsburg. William had been asked to start a new newspaper there.
On May 16, 1766, the first issue of William Rind's The Virginia Gazette was printed. Its motto was: "Open to ALL PARTIES, but Influenced by NONE." This newspaper printed local news and ads. It also shared important information from the House of Burgesses. This was Virginia's government at the time. Clementina would later continue this important work.
By 1767, the Rinds lived on Duke of Gloucester Street. Their brick building was both their home and their printing shop. Clementina and William had five children together. One daughter and four sons were born in Williamsburg. Their oldest child was born in Maryland.
Clementina's Printing Career
After her husband died in August 1773, Clementina Rind took charge. She edited and published The Virginia Gazette until 1774. She ran the printing press right from her brick home. Today, this building is known as the Ludwell-Paradise House in Colonial Williamsburg.
Clementina printed stories and letters sent in by women readers. This gave the newspaper a strong female voice. In 1774, she was the first person to print Thomas Jefferson's important paper, A Summary View of the Rights of British America. This paper talked about the rights of the American colonies.
Clementina became ill in August 1774. She passed away the next month in Williamsburg. She left behind her five children: William, John, Charles, James, and Maria. Clementina Rind was honored in 2000. She was part of the first group of women recognized in Virginia Women in History.
