Benjamin Franklin Bache (journalist)

Benjamin Franklin Bache (journalist)

Benjamin Franklin Bache (1769 – 1798) son of Richard and Sarah Bache and the grandson of Benjamin Franklin, was an American journalist who headed the openly Jeffersonian publication, the "Philadelphia Aurora" which is notable for being some of the impulse behind the Alien and Sedition Act.

As a young boy, Bache spent time in France with his grandfather, notably attending school with John Adams' son and future president John Quincy Adams in Passy. He was said to be a good student, even winning the school prize for translating Latin into French at Geneva, a school in Switzerland. Perhaps due to his grandfather's habit of being away without visiting for long periods of time, Bache was described as a depressed and shy adolescent. Though sensible and reasonable, Bache was said to often come across as cold and lacking fantasies or needs.

Upon returning to Philadelphia, Bache was ushered into work as a printer at his grandfather's old shop, prefiguring his future career as a newspaper editor. He took lessons for a time under François Didot, a well acknowledged and respected printer.

Following his grandfather's death in 1790, Benny inherited his printing equipment and many of his books. He followed in his grandfather's steps by establishing, seventy years after the New England Courant was first published, "The Philadelphia Aurora". The paper was notoriously passionate, even surpassing grandfather Benjamin Franklin's fierce pro-French and democratic stances.

Bache's articles denounced Federalists. The papers openly discredited both George Washington and John Adams. Among Bache's more controversial statements was the suggestion that Washington had secretly been collaborating with the British during the American Revolution. Bache was subsequently arrested after the passage of the Alien and Sedition Act, an act supported by then-President Adams. This act may have been written, at least in part, as a response to Bache's statements.

Bache died from yellow fever at the age of 29 before he could stand trial, and is buried in the Christ Church Burial Ground in Philadelphia. He is regarded by many Americans as an early champion of the Freedom of Speech and the First Amendment.

External links

* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=9372697 Benjamin Franklin Bache] at Find A Grave

Bibliography

See Richard N. Rosenfeld, AMERICAN AURORA (New York: St. Martin's Press, 1997).


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Benjamin Franklin — Franklin Porträt von Joseph Siffred Duplessis (Ölgemälde, um 1785). Das Bild diente 1995 als Vorlage zur Darstellung Franklins auf der neugestalteten 100 US Dollar Banknote. Benjamin Franklin (* 17. Januar 1706 in Boston, Massachusetts; † 17.… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Sarah Franklin Bache — by John Hoppner, 1793 Born 11 September 1743(1743 09 11) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Di …   Wikipedia

  • Bache — can refer to:Places*Bache, Cheshire *Bache Peninsula, on Ellesmere Island, CanadaPeople* Richard Bache (1737–1811), an American Postmaster General * Sarah Franklin Bache (1743–1808), his wife and Benjamin Franklin s daughter ** Benjamin Franklin… …   Wikipedia

  • Richard Bache — (* 12. September 1737 in Settle, Yorkshire; † 29. Juli 1811 im Berks County, Pennsylvania) war der zweite Postmaster General der Vereinigten Staaten und Nachfolger …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Tageszeitungen in den Vereinigten Staaten — gibt es seit dem 17. Jahrhundert. Am 25. September 1690 wurde von Richard Pierce und Benjamin Harris die erste Ausgabe einer kolonialen Zeitung mit dem Titel Publick Occurrences: Both Foreign and Domestick (etwa: „Öffentliche… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • History of American newspapers — The history of American newspapers goes back to the 17th century with the publication of the first colonial newspapers.Colonial period(This section is based on [http://www.bartleby.com/225/index.html#7 The Cambridge History of English and… …   Wikipedia

  • Federalist Party (United States) — Infobox Historical American Political Party party name= Federalist Party party party articletitle= Federalist Party (United States) active= 1792 1816 ideology= Federalism, nationalism, industrialization, non interventionism position= Fiscal:… …   Wikipedia

  • John Norvell — United States Senator from Michigan In office January 26, 1837 – March 4, 1841 Preceded by (none) …   Wikipedia

  • Central High School (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) — Infobox Secondary school name = Central High School type = Public secondary grades = 9–12 established= 1836 city = Philadelphia state = Pennsylvania country = USA enrollment = mascot = Central Lancer colors = Crimson and Gold color box|#DC143C… …   Wikipedia

  • Harry Stewart New — Harry S. New Harry Stewart New (* 31. Dezember 1858 in Indianapolis; † 9. Mai 1937 in Baltimore, Maryland) war ein US amerikanischer Politiker der Republikanischen Partei, der als …   Deutsch Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”