Solomon Southwick
Solomon Southwick | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Newport, Rhode Island, U.S. |
| Died | November 18, 1839 (aged 65) Albany, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Publisher, political leader, orator, lecturer |
| Years active | 1792–1839 |
| Known for | Founder of the Anti-Masonic Party; editor and publisher of Albany Register; candidate for Governor of New York (1828) |
Solomon Southwick (December 25, 1773 – November 18, 1839) was a prominent American publisher and political leader, recognized as a key founder of the Anti-Masonic Party.
Originating from Newport, Rhode Island, Southwick initially trained as a baker and gained experience as a commercial sailor before relocating to Albany, New York in 1792. There, he joined the staff of the Albany Register newspaper, eventually rising to the roles of editor and publisher. He was affiliated with the Democratic-Republican Party and held multiple elected and appointed positions throughout his career.
In the 1820s, Southwick parted ways with both the Democratic-Republicans and the Albany Register, turning his focus toward editing publications related to agriculture and religion. He was instrumental in establishing the Anti-Masonic Party and became its candidate for Governor of New York in 1828. Following the ascendancy of the Whigs as the primary opposition to the Democrats, Southwick withdrew from active politics and devoted himself to a prosperous career as an orator and lecturer until his passing in Albany.
Early life
Born on December 25, 1773, in Newport, Rhode Island, Solomon Southwick was the son of Solomon Southwick (1731–1797) and Ann Gardner Carpenter Southwick. His father was the publisher of the Newport Mercury and an ardent supporter of the Patriot movement during the American Revolution. Although Southwick attended the University of Pennsylvania, he did not complete his formal studies there; however, he later received honorary bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and Yale University, respectively.
Start of career
Southwick’s early education took place in Newport, where he first apprenticed as a baker. After a brief period training as a commercial sailor, he moved to New York City in 1791 to begin an apprenticeship in printing. The following year, he settled in Albany, New York to work for the Albany Register, a Democratic-Republican-aligned newspaper owned by Robert and John Barber. His decision to move was influenced by his brother Henry Southwick’s presence in Albany as a printer.
Later that same year, Robert Barber departed from the Albany Register, allowing Solomon to become a partner in both the newspaper and its printing operations. In 1795, he married Jane Barber, sister to Robert and John Barber.
Later career
While managing editorial duties at the Albany Register, Southwick actively participated in civic life and politics as a member of the Democratic-Republican Party. Beginning in 1801, he served with Albany’s volunteer fire department; he was Clerk of the New York State Assembly from 1803 to 1806 and Clerk of the New York State Senate between 1807 and 1808.
Southwick held the office of Sheriff of Albany County, New York from 1808 until 1810. In 1812, he was appointed to the New York State Board of Regents, where he served until 1823. After studying law under Harmanus Bleecker, Southwick gained admission to the bar in 1813. His other roles included official state printer and Postmaster of Albany. When the Farmers’ and Mechanics’ Bank was founded in 1811, he was chosen as its president.
In 1812, Southwick faced legal charges accusing him of attempting to bribe Assembly Speaker Alexander Sheldon to endorse a new central bank intended to replace the First Bank of the United States. The prosecution was led by Thomas Addis Emmet, while Southwick's defense team included prominent lawyers such as Aaron Burr. Ultimately, he was found not guilty.
Anti-Masonic perspectives
By the years 1817 to 1818, Southwick's political alignment shifted away from the Democratic-Republican Party, prompting him to discontinue the publication of the Albany Register. Subsequently, he initiated specialized periodicals including The Plough Boy, which promoted agricultural organizations; the religious periodical Christian Visitant; and the politically charged newspaper National Democrat, which stood in opposition to the Democratic-Republicans. In 1822, representing the National Democrats (aligned with the National Republican Party), he sought election unsuccessfully for both a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives and the governorship of New York.
Southwick also managed lottery agencies aimed at financing state initiatives. Accounts from contemporaries such as Thurlow Weed depict him as somewhat unconventional during the mid-1820s, consulting fortune-tellers for lottery number predictions and anticipating substantial winnings that ultimately did not occur. Following personal monetary setbacks linked to these lottery ventures, he received compensation from the state.
As a leading figure in founding the Anti-Masonic Party, Southwick was responsible for publishing the National Observer and made an unsuccessful gubernatorial bid in 1828 as an Anti-Mason candidate. By 1831, with Anti-Masonic support waning in New York, he retreated from political life to dedicate himself to delivering moral and educational lectures across the state on subjects such as The Bible, Temperance, and Self-Education. Between 1837 and 1839, he contributed to the Family Newspaper, which was published by his son Alfred.
Additional literary contributions
Southwick's literary output included works such as The Pleasures of Poverty (1823), A Solemn Warning Against Free-Masonry (1827), and Five Lessons for Young Men (1837), illustrating his involvement beyond commercial and political spheres.
Passing and interment
Southwick passed away unexpectedly in Albany on November 18, 1839. He was initially buried at the Episcopal Church Cemetery located on State Street, with his remains later transferred to Albany Rural Cemetery, specifically Lot 72 in Section 14.
Family
In 1795, Southwick married Jane Barber, who was sister to his former colleagues Robert and John Barber at the Albany Register. Together they had nine children, five of whom survived into adulthood. Jane was born around 1773–1775 and died in Albany on January 31, 1861.
See also
External links
- Declaration of Independence: First Newport printing by Solomon Southwick facsimile from the Rhode Island State Archives