National Intelligencer
Encyclopedia
The National Intelligencer newspaper
was published in Washington, D.C.
from about 1800 until 1870.
Until 1810 it was named the National intelligencer, and Washington advertiser. Its name changed to the National Intelligencer starting with the issue of November 27, 1810. The newspaper was published daily from 1813 to 1867 as the Daily National Intelligencer and was the dominant newspaper of the capitol.
Samuel Harrison Smith
, a prominent newspaperman, was an early proprietor. William Winston Seaton
and Joseph Gales
were its publishers for more than 50 years.
At first, Gales was the Senate
's sole reporter, and Seaton reported on the House of Representatives
. The Intelligencer supported the Jefferson
, Madison
, and Monroe
administrations, and Gales and Seaton were selected as the official printers of Congress from 1819 to 1829. In addition to printing government documents, they began compiling their reports of floor debates and publishing them in the Register of Debates, a forerunner of the Congressional Record
. Gales and Seaton flourished during the "Era of Good Feelings," a period of relative political complacency, but after Congress was split between the Whigs
and Democrats
, the partners lost their official patronage. From the 1830s to the 1850s, the National Intelligencer was one of the nation's leading Whig newspapers, and continued to hold conservative, unionist principles down to the Civil War, supporting John Bell
and the Constitutional Union Party
in the 1860 presidential election. Gales died in 1860 and Seaton retired in 1864.
In 1865 the National Intelligencer was taken over by Snow, Coyle & Co. Coyle had been an employee at the paper's offices, and continued to publish the paper despite a half million dollars' worth of debts. On 30 November 1869 the statistician and economist Alexander del Mar
bought the paper for cash and merged it with the Washington Express. The short-lived Daily National Intelligencer and Washington Expresss last daily publication in Washington was 10 January 1870. Thereafter it was published weekly in New York until at least April 1871. It later became the New York daily City and National Intelligencer with del Mar as editor and publisher, and a circulation of about 2,000 in 1872.
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...
was published in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
from about 1800 until 1870.
Until 1810 it was named the National intelligencer, and Washington advertiser. Its name changed to the National Intelligencer starting with the issue of November 27, 1810. The newspaper was published daily from 1813 to 1867 as the Daily National Intelligencer and was the dominant newspaper of the capitol.
Samuel Harrison Smith
Samuel Harrison Smith (printer)
Samuel Harrison Smith was an American journalist and newspaper publisher. He founded the National Intelligencer at Washington in 1800. Joseph Gales became his assistant in 1807 and sole proprietor in 1810...
, a prominent newspaperman, was an early proprietor. William Winston Seaton
William Winston Seaton
William Winston Seaton was an American journalist, born in King William County, Va.From 1812 until 1860 he was, with his brother-in-law Joseph Gales, proprietor of the National Intelligencer at Washington, D.C. From 1812 until 1820 the two were the only reporters of congressional proceedings...
and Joseph Gales
Joseph Gales
Joseph Gales, Jr. was an American journalist, born in Eckington, Derbyshire, England. His father, Joseph Gales, Sr. , was a printer in Sheffield, who was compelled to emigrate to America in 1795 because of his republican principles.-History:The son was educated at the University of North Carolina...
were its publishers for more than 50 years.
At first, Gales was the Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
's sole reporter, and Seaton reported on the House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. The Intelligencer supported the Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
, Madison
James Madison
James Madison, Jr. was an American statesman and political theorist. He was the fourth President of the United States and is hailed as the “Father of the Constitution” for being the primary author of the United States Constitution and at first an opponent of, and then a key author of the United...
, and Monroe
James Monroe
James Monroe was the fifth President of the United States . Monroe was the last president who was a Founding Father of the United States, and the last president from the Virginia dynasty and the Republican Generation...
administrations, and Gales and Seaton were selected as the official printers of Congress from 1819 to 1829. In addition to printing government documents, they began compiling their reports of floor debates and publishing them in the Register of Debates, a forerunner of the Congressional Record
Congressional Record
The Congressional Record is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress. It is published by the United States Government Printing Office, and is issued daily when the United States Congress is in session. Indexes are issued approximately every two weeks...
. Gales and Seaton flourished during the "Era of Good Feelings," a period of relative political complacency, but after Congress was split between the Whigs
Whig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
and Democrats
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, the partners lost their official patronage. From the 1830s to the 1850s, the National Intelligencer was one of the nation's leading Whig newspapers, and continued to hold conservative, unionist principles down to the Civil War, supporting John Bell
John Bell (Tennessee politician)
John Bell was a U.S. politician, attorney, and plantation owner. A wealthy slaveholder from Tennessee, Bell served in the United States Congress in both the House of Representatives and Senate. He began his career as a Democrat, he eventually fell out with Andrew Jackson and became a Whig...
and the Constitutional Union Party
Constitutional Union Party
There have been at least three political parties named the Constitutional Union Party.* The Constitutional Union Party was a party that was active in the United States on a national level in 1860...
in the 1860 presidential election. Gales died in 1860 and Seaton retired in 1864.
In 1865 the National Intelligencer was taken over by Snow, Coyle & Co. Coyle had been an employee at the paper's offices, and continued to publish the paper despite a half million dollars' worth of debts. On 30 November 1869 the statistician and economist Alexander del Mar
Alexander del Mar
Alexander del Mar, also Alex Delmar , was an American political economist, historian, numismatist and author.In business affairs he was frequently referred to in contemporary reports and newspapers as Delmar; however, many of his published works appeared under the name of del Mar. He sometimes...
bought the paper for cash and merged it with the Washington Express. The short-lived Daily National Intelligencer and Washington Expresss last daily publication in Washington was 10 January 1870. Thereafter it was published weekly in New York until at least April 1871. It later became the New York daily City and National Intelligencer with del Mar as editor and publisher, and a circulation of about 2,000 in 1872.