Solomon Southwick American newspaper publisher and political activist, chief organizer of the Anti-Masonic Party Date of Birth: 25.12.1773 Country: USA

1. Biography of Solomon Southwick
2. Early Career and Political Involvement
3. Legal and Political Challenges
4. Founder of the Anti-Masonic Party

Biography of Solomon Southwick

Solomon Southwick was an American newspaper publisher and political figure who played a prominent role in organizing the Anti-Masonic Party. Born on December 25, 1773, in Newport, Rhode Island, he was the son of Solomon Southwick Sr. and Ann Gardner Carpenter. His father was the publisher of the "Newport Mercury" newspaper and actively supported the patriot cause during the American Revolution. Solomon received his education in Newport.

Early Career and Political Involvement

Initially apprenticed to a baker, Solomon later tried his hand at becoming a sailor with entrepreneurial aspirations. In 1791, he arrived in New York City with hopes of becoming a printer. By 1792, Southwick had relocated to Albany, New York, where he worked for the "Albany Register" newspaper, which aligned with the Democratic-Republican Party. His older brother, Henry, also settled in Albany and worked in the printing trade. Eventually, Henry joined the "Albany Register" team, while Solomon became one of the newspaper's owners. In 1795, Southwick married Jane Barber, and he began to actively participate in public life and engage in politics as a Democratic-Republican. He also studied law under Harmanus Bleecker. While officially remaining a printer, Solomon served as the postmaster of Albany.

Legal and Political Challenges

In 1813, Southwick was admitted to the bar association. A year before that, he faced accusations of attempting to bribe Speaker of the Parliament Alexander Sheldon, but he was acquitted. By 1817 or 1818, Southwick's political views no longer aligned with those of the Democratic-Republicans. He published several specialty newspapers, including "The Plough Boy," focused on New York agriculture, and advocated for the creation of local, county, and state agricultural societies. Additionally, Solomon published and edited the religious journal "Christian Visitant" and the political newspaper "National Democrat," which opposed the Democratic-Republicans.

Founder of the Anti-Masonic Party

Representing the National Republican Party, Southwick embarked on a quixotic campaign to be elected to the United States House of Representatives and the position of New York state governor in 1822. He organized and launched a lottery to raise funds for his programs and projects within the state. According to publisher Thurlow Weed and others, Southwick, who emerged on the scene in the mid-1820s, was an eccentric man who sought advice from fortune-tellers and mystics to determine winning lottery numbers in other states. Weed and others indicate that for several years, Southwick would eagerly check his mail, hoping to receive a notification that he had won a large sum of money, but it never happened. When his lottery business in New York led to serious financial problems, the state came to his rescue.

As the founder of the Anti-Masonic Party, Solomon became one of its leading supporters. He published the anti-Masonic newspaper "National Observer" and unsuccessfully ran for governor in 1828 as a candidate of his party. By 1831, the Anti-Masons had lost most of their influence in New York, and Southwick retired from politics. He became a popular advocate for morality and a preacher. From 1837 to 1839, Southwick was associated with the periodical "Family Newspaper," which was published by his son Alfred.

Solomon was the father of nine children, five of whom survived into adulthood. He passed away in Albany on November 18, 1839, and his wife Jane Barber followed on January 31, 1861.