John Charlton Fisher
Encyclopedia
John Charlton Fisher, Esq., L.L.D. (October 23, 1794 – August 10, 1849) was a Canadian
author
, journalist
, and publisher
.
Born in Carlisle, England
, John Charlton Fisher was a brilliant student and obtained a doctorate
in law. He soon moved to New York City
and in 1822 he there became a founding publisher of a newspaper, the Albion, along with John Bartlett
.
In of 1823 Fisher accepted an offer to come to Quebec
and take over as publisher of the Quebec Gazette
. On October 10 Governor Lord Dalhousie
gave him the post of Queen's Printer
.
He also worked as a journalist at the Quebec Mercury
. In 1838 he sat as clerk, and then as secretary, to the Rebellion Losses Commission. After giving up the post of publisher of the Quebec Gazette in 1840, he decided to launch his own weekly
, the Conservative, in 1841, but it was unsuccessful. He remained Queen's Printer in the city of Quebec until his death. The Literary and Historical Society of Quebec
came into being in 1824, and Fisher served as its first treasurer and corresponding secretary. He was named president
in 1846 and vice president
the following year. Early in the 1830s he served as secretary and librarian of the Garrison Library
. He became president of the Quebec Library Association in 1847.
He and Andrew Stuart
contributed material for Alfred Hawkins's book Hawkins's picture of Quebec; with historical recollections, published in 1834.
When Charles Dickens
visited Quebec in 1842, Fisher had the honour of being his host.
On August 10, 1849 he died at sea on the steamship Sarah Sands, which he had boarded in Liverpool
three days earlier to return to Quebec
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, and publisher
Publishing
Publishing is the process of production and dissemination of literature or information—the activity of making information available to the general public...
.
Born in Carlisle, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, John Charlton Fisher was a brilliant student and obtained a doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in law. He soon moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and in 1822 he there became a founding publisher of a newspaper, the Albion, along with John Bartlett
John Bartlett
John Bartlett may refer to:*John Bartlett *John Bartlett , publisher of Bartlett's Familiar Quotations*John H...
.
In of 1823 Fisher accepted an offer to come to Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
and take over as publisher of the Quebec Gazette
Quebec Chronicle-Telegraph
The Quebec Chronicle-Telegraph, founded by William Brown as the Quebec Gazette on 21 June 1764, claims to be the oldest newspaper in North America...
. On October 10 Governor Lord Dalhousie
James Broun-Ramsay, 1st Marquess of Dalhousie
James Andrew Broun-Ramsay, 1st Marquess of Dalhousie KT, PC was a Scottish statesman, and a colonial administrator in British India....
gave him the post of Queen's Printer
Queen's Printer
The Queen's Printer is a position defined by letters patent under the royal prerogative in various Commonwealth realms...
.
He also worked as a journalist at the Quebec Mercury
Quebec Mercury
The Quebec Mercury was an English language weekly newspaper published in Quebec City from 1805 to 1863.The Mercury was founded by publisher Thomas Cary in respect and veneration of Canada's link to the United Kingdom. From 1828 to 1848 the Mercury was owned jointly by Thomas Cary Jr. and...
. In 1838 he sat as clerk, and then as secretary, to the Rebellion Losses Commission. After giving up the post of publisher of the Quebec Gazette in 1840, he decided to launch his own weekly
Weekly newspaper
A weekly newspaper is a general-news publication that is published on newsprint once or twice a week.Such newspapers tend to have smaller circulations than daily newspapers, and are usually based in less-populous communities or small, defined areas within large cities; often, they may cover a...
, the Conservative, in 1841, but it was unsuccessful. He remained Queen's Printer in the city of Quebec until his death. The Literary and Historical Society of Quebec
Literary and Historical Society of Quebec
-External links:*, managed by the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec.*, virtual exhibit on the history of Canadian learned societies.*, virtual library containing all publications from 1824-1924....
came into being in 1824, and Fisher served as its first treasurer and corresponding secretary. He was named president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
in 1846 and vice president
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
the following year. Early in the 1830s he served as secretary and librarian of the Garrison Library
Garrison Library
The Garrison Library was founded in Gibraltar in 1793 by Colonel John Drinkwater Bethune and officially opened in 1804 by the Duke of Kent. The library served as the headquarters and archive service of the Gibraltar Chronicle, the world's second oldest English language newspaper...
. He became president of the Quebec Library Association in 1847.
He and Andrew Stuart
Andrew Stuart (Canadian politician)
Andrew Stuart was a lawyer and political figure in Lower Canada.He was born at Cataraqui in 1785, the son of Anglican priest John Stuart, a United Empire Loyalist, and studied with the Reverend John Strachan and then at Union College in New York...
contributed material for Alfred Hawkins's book Hawkins's picture of Quebec; with historical recollections, published in 1834.
When Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
visited Quebec in 1842, Fisher had the honour of being his host.
On August 10, 1849 he died at sea on the steamship Sarah Sands, which he had boarded in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
three days earlier to return to Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
.