John Holt (publisher)
Encyclopedia
John Holt was a Colonial
American
newspaper
publisher and the Mayor
of Williamsburg, Virginia
.
John Holt was born in Williamsburg, Virginia
, in 1721, his parents being David and Margaret Dibnall Holt. He married Elizabeth Hunter, the daughter of an associate, and had at least two children: Elizabeth, born on April 19, 1746, and John, born in July of 1748.
For business purposes, Holt built a "new store" in Williamsburg on Duke of Gloucester Street in about 1745. He later sold the store in 1754 to William Waters, who owned the store adjacent to his. Six years later, Waters sold it Holt's younger brother William.
He was elected mayor of Williamsburg on November 30, 1752, and served for one term, from 1753 to 1754. After his term as mayor was up, he moved to New York City
. Shortly thereafter, he became postmaster
of New Haven, Connecticut
.
On January 1, 1755, James Parker and John Holt published the first newspaper in Connecticut
, called The Connecticut Gazette.
In 1760, he moved back to New York City, and was associated with the newspaper The New York Gazette. He died in New York City in 1784 and was buried in the church yard of St. Paul's Chapel
, where his grave is still visible.
His son John Hunter Holt was a newspaper publisher in Virginia
.
Colonialism
Colonialism is the establishment, maintenance, acquisition and expansion of colonies in one territory by people from another territory. It is a process whereby the metropole claims sovereignty over the colony and the social structure, government, and economics of the colony are changed by...
American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
publisher and the Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...
.
John Holt was born in Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...
, in 1721, his parents being David and Margaret Dibnall Holt. He married Elizabeth Hunter, the daughter of an associate, and had at least two children: Elizabeth, born on April 19, 1746, and John, born in July of 1748.
For business purposes, Holt built a "new store" in Williamsburg on Duke of Gloucester Street in about 1745. He later sold the store in 1754 to William Waters, who owned the store adjacent to his. Six years later, Waters sold it Holt's younger brother William.
He was elected mayor of Williamsburg on November 30, 1752, and served for one term, from 1753 to 1754. After his term as mayor was up, he 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...
. Shortly thereafter, he became postmaster
Postmaster
A postmaster is the head of an individual post office. Postmistress is not used anymore in the United States, as the "master" component of the word refers to a person of authority and has no gender quality...
of New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
.
On January 1, 1755, James Parker and John Holt published the first newspaper in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, called The Connecticut Gazette.
In 1760, he moved back to New York City, and was associated with the newspaper The New York Gazette. He died in New York City in 1784 and was buried in the church yard of St. Paul's Chapel
St. Paul's Chapel
St. Paul's Chapel, is an Episcopal chapel located at 209 Broadway, between Fulton and Vesey Streets, in lower Manhattan in New York City. It is the oldest surviving church building in Manhattan.-History and architecture:...
, where his grave is still visible.
His son John Hunter Holt was a newspaper publisher in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
.