William Duane Publishes a Partisan Paper - Early American Journalism
William Duane was an important newspaper editor during the American Founding.
Duane’s paper became a mouthpiece of the Democratic-Republican Party and promoted Jeffersonian ideals over that of the Federalists.
Note: This is not the same William Duane who would serve as Andrew Jackson’s Secretary of the Treasury.
William Duane
William Duane was born in colonial New York but did not participate in the Revolutionary War.
By the time hostilities had broken out, Duane’s father passed away and an 11-year-old William was brought to Ireland.
When he came of age, Duane moved to London and became a journalist.
India
In 1786, Duane moved to India where he co-founded and edited the Bengal Journal.
His paper criticized the British Government while singing the praises of the French Revolutionaries.
This was a big no-no in a British colony and he was deported from India.
After a brief sojourn in London, William decided to return to the continent he was born on (though now with a new name)...the United States.
Aurora
Settling in Philadelphia, Duane began working closely with Benjamin Franklin Bache (Ben Franklin’s grandson) on his paper Aurora.
Aurora was known for being one of the most outspoken Democratic-Republican Papers in the young nation. It praised the work of Thomas Jefferson while giving grief to Alexander Hamilton and John Adams.
Bache was even arrested under the Sedition Act, though he passed away from yellow fever before his trial.
After Bache’s death, Duane took over the Aurora which he ran for the next three decades. His work made him one of the most influential (and disliked) journalists of the Early Republic.
Later Career
Despite being born in New York, Duane made the interesting move of filling out naturalization papers in 1802. This seems to have been to prevent any chance of someone claiming he was not actually a citizen.
Furthermore, William served in the War of 1812, though he came into conflict with President Madison during this time.
Duane continued running the Aurora long enough to criticize the Missouri Compromise and support the presidency of Andrew Jackson.
Want to read about other partisan journalists of the American Revolution?
May I introduce Arthur St. Clair:
James Callender Reveals All the Founders’ Secrets
The Sedition of Benjamin Franklin Bache
The Spitting Matthew Lyon - From Congress to Jail and Back
Writing Wrongs - Anthony Haswell’s Divisive Content
Want to learn more about early American journalism?
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