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John of London (ship)

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The John of London was a ship famous for bringing the first printing press to the British Colonies of North America; however, the first press in the American continent had arrived in 1536 in Mexico City by Juan Pablos in representation of Juan Cromberger.

Construction and Service

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The John of London was possibly built during the 1620s by Robert Trenckmore in his shipyards at Shoreham-By-Sea in West Sussex, England. At least once during her 20-30 year lifespan, she was refitted as a fighting ship.

Brings the first printing press to North America

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The ship was captained by George Lamberton during her 1638 voyage from Hull, Yorkshire to Boston, Massachusetts. This voyage brought Ezekiel Rogers and a number of families that went on to settle Rowley, Massachusetts. The voyage was also notable for bringing the first printing press to North America,[1][2] which went on to be used at Harvard College.[3][4]

Fate

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The John of London was captured and sunk near Bass Rock in the Firth of Forth, Scotland, during 1650.

References

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  • Paine, Lincoln P., Ships of the World, An Historical Encyclopedia; Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, 1997. (p. 619)
  • Spectre, Peter H. and Larkin, David, Wooden Ship, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston; 1991.
  • Paine, Lincoln P., Ships of the World, An Historical Encyclopedia; Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, 1997. (Centerpiece)
  • Cheal, Henry, The Story of Shoreham, Hove Combridges, 1921. (pp. 148–149)
  • Atwater, Edward, History of the Colony of New Haven; 1880. (pp. 84, 85)
  • Lauder-Frost, G.M.S., East Lothian Life, Issue 22, Autumn 1996, (ISSN 1361-7818)
  • Corydon Ireland, Harvard Gazette, The instrument behind New England’s first literary flowering; Harvard University, Cambridge, 2012.

Notes

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  1. ^ "Great Migration: Passengers of the John of London, 1638 genealogy project". geni_family_tree. Retrieved 2017-07-30.
  2. ^ "John of London". www.packrat-pro.com. Retrieved 2017-07-30.
  3. ^ "Harvard College Sponsored First Printing Press Set Up in U. S. A. | News | The Harvard Crimson". www.thecrimson.com. Retrieved 2017-07-30.
  4. ^ "No. 733:First U.S. PRESS". Engines of our Engenuity.[dead link]
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