- Richard Ruddock
Lancelot Nixon Richard Ruddock (1837-1908) - known as Richard Ruddock - was a
reporter ,newspaper editor and a founder of theSunderland Echo in the 19th century.Early life
Richard Ruddock was born in
Blyth ,Northumberland on December 27, 1837 and became acompositor on the "Northern Daily Express", based in Newcastle, after leaving school. [Sunderland Daily Echo: June 27, 1908] [Newcastle Chronicle: June 27, 1908] [Book and News Trade Gazette: October 6, 1894]Journalism career
Ruddock moved to
Sunderland in 1859, where he worked on the "Sunderland Herald" newspaper for a year, and he was then appointed as agent and resident reporter in Sunderland for theNewcastle Chronicle . [Newcastle Chronicle: June 27, 1908] [Book and News Trade Gazette: October 6, 1894]Ruddock established the "Sunderland Penny Weekly News" for the Chronicle's proprietors in 1865 and "warmly supported"
John Candlish in his political battles of 1867–1868. During this time, Ruddock worked closely with Liberal councillor, and future MP for Sunderland,Samuel Storey . The pair would eventually become two of the original seven founders of theSunderland Echo in 1873. [Sunderland Daily Echo: June 27, 1908] [cite web|url=http://www.wearsideonline.com/sunderland_echo.html|title=Sunderland Echo|accessdate=2008-02-24 |author=Wearsideonline website |year=2007] [cite web|url=http://members.cox.net/ggthomp/edwardtemperleygourley1826.html|title=Founding member|accessdate=2008-02-24 |author=Memberscox website |year=2007]Ruddock visited
Egypt for health reasons in 1877 and, soon after his return in 1878, he succeeded James Annand as managing editor of theNewcastle Chronicle . It was a post he held until his death. [Newcastle Chronicle: June 27, 1908] [Sunderland Daily Echo: december 22, 1923]His
obituary in the Sunderland Echo on June 27, 1908, read: "Unlike Annand, who had resigned after falling out with the Chronicle's proprietor,Joseph Cowen , on theEastern Question , the leading political issue of the day, Ruddock seems to have been content to do as Cowen wanted. His managing editorship was most notable for his avoidance of both labour disputes and libel actions." [Sunderland Daily Echo: June 27, 1908] [Book and News Trade Gazette: October 6, 1894]Personal life
Ruddock married Ann Whitfield, daughter of Captain James Whitfield of Sunderland, in 1861. The Census for this year shows he was living in Blandford Street, Sunderland, although he later moved to Argyle Square, Bishopwearmouth. He was survived by his wife, four sons and two daughters following his death in Newcastle on June 27, 1908. [Newcastle Chronicle: June 27, 1908] [Sunderland Daily Echo: december 22, 1923]
References
Further reading
* Sunderland Daily Echo: June 27, 1908 - obituary
* Newcastle Chronicle: June 27, 1908 - obituary
* Who Was Who
* Book and News Trade Gazette: October 6, 1894, pp 238-9
* Sunderland Daily Echo: December 22, 1923 - article on Echo founders
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