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Book publishers in Upper Canada

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After the American Revolutionary War, U.S. printers were freed of British copyright restrictions and freely reprinted British works. Upper Canadian printers remained bound by British copyright. American presses quickly took the lead in producing cheap editions and eventually the printing of original work.

Publishing in Upper Canada was thus largely limited to local newspapers. The official Kings Printer published a large number of government documents, including the journal of the provincial Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council. During the 1830s, a series of directories and gazetteers were independently published. The only substantial original works published were by David Willson, the religious leader of the Children of Peace, a utopian Quaker group who built the Sharon Temple.

The following list is partial, and omits government publications.

Dundas

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George Heyworth Hackstaff

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Newspaper Dates Political Orientation
Canada (later London) Inquirer 1839— Reform

Kingston

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James MacFarlane

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Newspaper Dates Political Orientation
Kingston Chronicle July 7, 1826 - June 23, 1832 Reform
Kingston Chronicle & Gazette, and weekly commercial advertiser 29 June 1833 – 31 December 1845 Reform

Stephen Miles

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Newspaper Dates Political Orientation
Kingston Gazette NOV. 27, 1810 - DEC. 29, 1820 Reform

Hugh Christopher Thomson (1791-1834)

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Newspaper Dates Political Orientation
Upper Canada Herald 1819—1833+ Independent

+ The Herald continued to be published by Thomson's wife Elizabeth until 1838, making her the first female newspaper publisher in the province.[1]

Edward John Barker

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Newspaper Dates Political Orientation
The British Whig Feb. 11, 1834 - January 26, 1836 Reform/Conservative

Sandwich (Windsor)

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James Cowan

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Newspaper Dates Political Orientation
Canadian Emigrant and Western District Advertiser Dec. 1831 to Sept. 1836 Reform/Conservative

Henry C. Grant

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Newspaper Dates Political Orientation
Western Herald and Farmers' Magazine Jan. 1838 to Oct. 1842 Reform/Conservative

Toronto

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William Joseph Coates (1805–1879)

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David Willson

Coates was the first printer of the Methodist newspaper "The Christian Guardian" edited by Rev. Egerton Ryerson from 1829–33, after which he opened his own shop.[3]

W.J. Coates & Thomas Dalton (1782-1840)

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  • George Walton "The City of Toronto and the home district commercial directory and register with almanack and calendar for 1837 : being first after leap-year, and the eighth year of the reign of his majesty King William the Fourth" (Toronto: T. Dalton & W.J. Coates, 1837).

Thomas Dalton (1782-1840)

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Newspaper Dates Political Orientation
Patriot & Farmers Monitor (Kingston) Nov. 12 1829 —Dec. 7, 1832 Moderate Reform
Patriot & Farmers Monitor (Toronto) Dec. 1832— 1840+ Conservative

+ The Herald continued to be published by Dalton's wife Sarah until 1848, making her the second female newspaper publisher in the province.[4]

Charles Fothergill (1782–1840)

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Joseph H. Lawrence

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William Lyon Mackenzie (1795–1861)

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William Lyon Mackenzie
Newspaper Dates Political Orientation
Colonial Advocate May 18, 1824 – 1833 Reform
Advocate 1833-Oct. 30, 1834 Radical Reform
Constitution July 4, 1836-Dec. 6, 1837 Radical Reform

Robert Stanton (1794-1866)

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References

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  1. ^ "Dictionary of Canadian Biography".
  2. ^ Gundy, H. Pearson in Tulchinsky, Gerald (1976). To Preserve and Protect. Montreal-Kington: McGill-Queens University Press. pp. 203–22.
  3. ^ Elder, Carol (1986). "W.J. Coates: an early 19th century Toronto printer". The York Pioneer. 81: 44–49.
  4. ^ "Dictionary of Canadian Biography".
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