Thomas Lloyd (stenographer) facts for kids

Thomas Lloyd (1756–1827) is often called the "Father of American Shorthand." He was born in London on August 14. Thomas learned a special way of writing called shorthand while studying at the College of St. Omer in Flanders. This skill helped him become famous.

He earned his nickname because he wrote down the most complete and official notes of the First Continental Congress. He also worked for the Treasurer of the United States and recorded the very first speech given by George Washington when he became president. This speech was then printed in a newspaper called the Gazette of the United States.

Thomas Lloyd's Life Story

Joining the Army

Just before the American Revolutionary War began, Thomas Lloyd moved to America. He joined the fight for independence by volunteering for the Maryland Militia. He fought in the Long Island campaign in 1776.

After his first group disbanded, he joined another Maryland regiment. He was hurt during the Battle of Brandywine and left the army in February 1779.

Becoming a Shorthand Expert

In 1780, Thomas Lloyd married Mary Carson and moved to Philadelphia. There, he became known as a very skilled stenographer, which means someone who writes in shorthand. He also taught others his method.

He was very interested in politics and attended the first meeting of the new United States Congress. He published the notes from that meeting, which helped him get a permanent job recording all Congressional debates.

His publication, called the Congressional Register, became very famous. It was known as the most accurate and official record of what was said in Congress. Even members of Congress used it often to find quotes.

As Thomas Lloyd continued his publishing work, some people criticized him. They thought he favored certain political groups. For example, he didn't publish notes from some meetings that were against the Constitution of the United States. This made some people accuse him of being unfair.

In 1789, Lloyd reported on the first meeting of the First United States House of Representatives. He was even made the official recorder for the second meeting. Although he kept recording many political debates, his Register stopped being published in 1790.

Sharing His Method

After his publications ended, Thomas Lloyd faced some tough times. He returned to the United States hoping to continue his work, but he didn't get his old job back with Congress.

However, a well-known publisher named Mathew Carey learned Lloyd's shorthand method. In January 1793, Carey published a book called The System of Shorthand Practiced by Thomas Lloyd in Taking Down the Debates of Congress and Now (With His Permission) Published for General Use. This book helped share Lloyd's special writing system with many more people.

Thomas Lloyd's Legacy

Thomas Lloyd's last known publication was a book that explained his complete shorthand system. This book, called Lloyd's Stenography, was published in 1819. It was designed to be a manual for anyone who wanted to learn shorthand. This book became his lasting contribution.

Thomas Lloyd passed away on January 19, 1827. He was buried in the cemetery of St. Augustine Church in Philadelphia. He left behind three daughters.