Samuel Cornish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Samuel Cornish
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1825 engraving by Francis Kearney
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| Born |
Samuel Eli Cornish
1795 |
| Died | 6 November 1858 (aged 62–63) |
| Occupation | Journalist |
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Notable credit(s)
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Freedom's Journal Colored American Rights of All |
Samuel Eli Cornish (1795 – 1858) was an important American leader. He was a Presbyterian minister (a religious leader), an abolitionist (someone who worked to end slavery), a publisher, and a journalist. He helped lead the free Black community in New York City. He started the first Black Presbyterian church there. In 1827, he became an editor of Freedom's Journal, which was the very first newspaper for Black people in the United States. He also helped create the American Anti-Slavery Society in 1833, which worked to end slavery.
Contents
Samuel Cornish's Early Life
Samuel Cornish was born in Sussex County, Delaware. His parents were free and of mixed race. In 1815, when he was a young man, he moved to Philadelphia. Philadelphia had a large community of free Black people at that time. Later, in 1821, he moved to New York City. There, he started the first group of Black Presbyterians in the city.
Cornish's Career and Work
Starting a Church and Helping Others
In 1822, Samuel Cornish became an ordained minister. His church was officially named the New Demeter Street Presbyterian Church. This made it the first Black Presbyterian Church in New York City. He also served as a minister at other churches. These included the First African Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia and Emmanuel Church in New York City.
Cornish held important roles in other groups too. He worked with the American Bible Society. He was also one of the four Black founding members of the American Missionary Association, which started in 1846. This group had 12 founders in total.
Editing the First Black Newspaper
In March 1827, Samuel Cornish became one of two editors for Freedom's Journal. This was a very important newspaper because it was the first one for Black people in the United States. The other editor was John Russwurm. The newspaper aimed to serve the 300,000 free Black people in the country. It was especially important for the community in New York. It also worked to challenge the racist comments often found in other local newspapers.
Cornish left Freedom's Journal in September 1827. This was likely because of disagreements with his Presbyterian colleagues. They were concerned about articles in the paper that criticized the American Colonization Society.
After Cornish left, John Russwurm was the only editor for two years. During this time, Russwurm changed his mind about colonization. This caused many readers to stop reading the paper. Russwurm then moved to Liberia in 1829. Cornish returned to the newspaper and tried to make it successful again. He changed its name to The Rights of All. However, the paper stopped publishing in less than a year.
Later, Cornish became the editor for the Weekly Advocate. This paper was later renamed The Colored American. He worked there from 1837 to 1839. Philip Alexander Bell owned this newspaper.
Fighting Against Slavery
In 1833, Samuel Cornish was a founding member of the American Anti-Slavery Society. This group had both Black and white members and leaders. He was very active with them until 1840. That year, he left to join a new group called the American and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society. He left mainly because he disagreed with William Lloyd Garrison about the role of religion in the Abolitionist movement. Cornish used his skills as a journalist and editor to teach people about the important issues of abolitionism.
Personal Life and Family
Samuel Cornish married Jane Livingston in 1824. They were married in New York City, which is where he lived for most of his life. Samuel and Jane had four children together.
Samuel Cornish passed away on November 6, 1858, in Brooklyn, New York. He was 63 years old.
See also
