Jeremiah Garnett
Encyclopedia
Jeremiah Garnett was an English journalist, active in the politics of Lancashire
and the founding of The Guardian.
and elder brother of Thomas Garnett (manufacturer)
, was born at Otley
in Yorkshire, 2 October 1793. After being apprenticed to a printer at Barnsley, he entered the office of Wheeler's Manchester Chronicle about 1814, and with a brief interruption continued there until 1821, when he joined John Edward Taylor
in establishing the Manchester Guardian. Garnett was printer, business manager, and sole reporter during the first years of the journal. He took his notes using an improvised form of shorthand
, then prepared type for printing without a written copy.
As the paper gained ground his share in the literary management increased, and in January 1844 he became sole editor upon the death of his partner, a position which he held until his retirement in 1861. During these forty years he is said to have had a great influence on the public opinion of Manchester
and Lancashire generally, the admirable management of The Guardian causing it to be largely read, both by tories and leaguers, who had little sympathy with its moderate liberal politics. He was active as a police commissioner, and in obtaining a charter of incorporation for the city. His correspondence and advice were politically influential, but his public appearances were infrequent. The most important was on the occasion of the expulsion of Thomas Milner Gibson
and John Bright
from the representation of Manchester in 1857, which was almost entirely due to his initiative.
His nephew was Richard Garnett
, the author of his entry in the Dictionary of National Biography
(1900), who says,
After his retirement he lived in Scotland and at Sale, Cheshire, where he died on 27 Sept. 1870.
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
and the founding of The Guardian.
Life
Jeremiah, younger brother of Richard Garnett (philologist)Richard Garnett (philologist)
-Life:Garnett was born at Otley in Yorkshire on 25 July 1789, the eldest son of a paper manufacturer, William Garnett. He was educated at Otley grammar school, and afterwards learned French and Italian from an Italian gentleman named Facio, it being intended to place him in a mercantile house...
and elder brother of Thomas Garnett (manufacturer)
Thomas Garnett (manufacturer)
-Life:Thomas, younger brother of Richard Garnett and Jeremiah Garnett was born at Otley, Yorkshire, England, on 18 Jan. 1799. In his early days he supported himself by weaving pieces on his own account, but about the age or twenty-one he obtained employment in the great manufacturing establishment...
, was born at Otley
Otley
-Transport:The main roads through the town are the A660 to the south east, which connects Otley to Bramhope, Adel and Leeds city centre, and the A65 to the west, which goes to Ilkley and Skipton. The A6038 heads to Guiseley, Shipley and Bradford, connecting with the A65...
in Yorkshire, 2 October 1793. After being apprenticed to a printer at Barnsley, he entered the office of Wheeler's Manchester Chronicle about 1814, and with a brief interruption continued there until 1821, when he joined John Edward Taylor
John Edward Taylor
John Edward Taylor was the founder of the Manchester Guardian newspaper, later to become The Guardian.-Biography:...
in establishing the Manchester Guardian. Garnett was printer, business manager, and sole reporter during the first years of the journal. He took his notes using an improvised form of shorthand
Shorthand
Shorthand is an abbreviated symbolic writing method that increases speed or brevity of writing as compared to a normal method of writing a language. The process of writing in shorthand is called stenography, from the Greek stenos and graphē or graphie...
, then prepared type for printing without a written copy.
As the paper gained ground his share in the literary management increased, and in January 1844 he became sole editor upon the death of his partner, a position which he held until his retirement in 1861. During these forty years he is said to have had a great influence on the public opinion of Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
and Lancashire generally, the admirable management of The Guardian causing it to be largely read, both by tories and leaguers, who had little sympathy with its moderate liberal politics. He was active as a police commissioner, and in obtaining a charter of incorporation for the city. His correspondence and advice were politically influential, but his public appearances were infrequent. The most important was on the occasion of the expulsion of Thomas Milner Gibson
Thomas Milner Gibson
Thomas Milner Gibson PC was a British politician.-Background and education:Thomas Milner Gibson came of a Suffolk family, but was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad, where his father was serving as an officer in the army...
and John Bright
John Bright
John Bright , Quaker, was a British Radical and Liberal statesman, associated with Richard Cobden in the formation of the Anti-Corn Law League. He was one of the greatest orators of his generation, and a strong critic of British foreign policy...
from the representation of Manchester in 1857, which was almost entirely due to his initiative.
His nephew was Richard Garnett
Richard Garnett
Richard Garnett C.B. was a scholar, librarian, biographer and poet. He was son of Richard Garnett, an author, philologist and assistant keeper of printed books in the British Museum....
, the author of his entry in the Dictionary of National Biography
Dictionary of National Biography
The Dictionary of National Biography is a standard work of reference on notable figures from British history, published from 1885...
(1900), who says,
"As a man he was upright and benevolent, but singularly averse to display; as a writer for the press his principal characteristics were strong common-sense and extreme clearness of style."
After his retirement he lived in Scotland and at Sale, Cheshire, where he died on 27 Sept. 1870.