John Fleeming

John Fleeming
Born	Scotland
Occupation(s)	Printer, publisher, bookseller
Years active	1760s–1770s
Known for	Publishing the Boston Chronicle; attempted publication of the first Bible printed in America; report on the Boston Massacre trial

John Fleeming—also known as John Fleming—was a printer, publisher, and bookseller active in 18th-century Boston, Massachusetts.

Biography

Originating from Scotland, Fleeming relocated to Boston around 1764. By the following year, he had formed a business partnership with William M'Alpine, operating as publishers and booksellers on Marlborough Street. Subsequently, Fleeming collaborated with John Mein to publish the Boston Chronicle newspaper from 1767 until 1770, along with other works such as Bickerstaff's Boston Almanack. Their joint venture concluded around 1770. That same year, Fleeming married Alice Church, the daughter of Boston merchant Benjamin Church.

In 1770, he pursued the publication of what was intended to be "the first bible ever printed in America." Additionally, he released a detailed report on the trial concerning the Boston Massacre in late 1770 or early 1771.

Fleeming left Boston in 1773 aboard a vessel reportedly carrying silver valued at approximately $30,000 from the Boston Custom House, representing contested revenue funds. By 1778, under the Massachusetts Banishment Act, the Massachusetts General Court forbade Fleeming and other Tories from returning to the state.

Following this, he served as an agent for a commercial firm within the United States before eventually settling in France, where he passed away sometime after 1800.

See also

• List of booksellers in Boston