John Peter Zenger was born on Thursday, October 26th, 1697 in Palatinate, Germany. He was born to Johanna Zenger, and his father is not mentioned. He had a sister, Anna Catherine Zenger Becker, and a brother, Zenger Johannes. John was Christian. In 1710, at just thirteen years old, he and his family moved to New York, New York.
Later on in in Zenger’s life, he got into journaling and printing. He started his own printing business in 1726. In the year of 1733, Zenger started printing The Weekly Journal. At this time, William Cosby was the governor. Just a year after starting his own business and getting situated, on November 17th, in 1734, he was accused and taken to jail for basically labeling William Cosby an idiot.
He was in prison for over eight months. The print had mentioned that the governor had rigged elections, allowed French enemy to explore New York Harbor, that William was a liar, a thief, fired officials without authority, and controlled legislators and judges by bribing them with money and position. All that information was not a lie, for it was the truth. A trial had begun.
Zenger refused to give out the names of the authors of the print, so they still remain anonymous. However, Zenger had back-up. And he knew that he had to take full responsibility of what was published in the journal. Andrew Hamilton, a famous lawyer from Philadelphia, stepped up to defend him. Hamilton admitted that Zenger had printed the charges, but he demanded the prosecution to prove them wrong. Andrew said, “It is not the cause of one poor printer, but the cause of liberty." The judge ordered the jury to convict Zenger if they believe he printed the stories. Ten minutes later, than jury had returned with a verdict of not guilty.
Cheers had filled the room, and Zenger and Hamilton were hailed as heroes. Indeed, this trial had gained us to power to freedom of speech and press. Although this freedom was not official until the first Amendment, publishers had felt more free to be able to print their honest views. Now, as the American Revolution approached, this particular freedom would become much more important. The colonies greatly appreciated this new freedom.
In the year of 1736, the Zenger trial was published in The Weekly Journal and was widely circulated in both New York and England. In 1737, John Peter Zenger became a public printer in both New York and New Jersey. He felt accomplished. After all, he did succeed his dreams!
Zenger was married twice. His first wife, Mary White Zenger whom he married in 1719, divorced very early into their marriage. Two years later, he married Anna Catherine Maulin Zenger in 1722. Throughout both marriages, he had four children whose names are Pieter Zenger, John Zenger, Catherine Zenger Lane, and Elizabeth Zenger Kook. On Friday, July 28th, 1746, at just 48 years old, John Peter Zenger died. How he died is unspecified.
Resources:
· http://www.ushistory.org/us/7c.asp
· http://www.iwosc.org/showcases/mwolf.html
· http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/bookmarks/zenger/
· http://www.historybuff.com/library/refzenger.html
· http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Peter_Zenger
· http://www.nndb.com/people/626/000207005/
Later on in in Zenger’s life, he got into journaling and printing. He started his own printing business in 1726. In the year of 1733, Zenger started printing The Weekly Journal. At this time, William Cosby was the governor. Just a year after starting his own business and getting situated, on November 17th, in 1734, he was accused and taken to jail for basically labeling William Cosby an idiot.
He was in prison for over eight months. The print had mentioned that the governor had rigged elections, allowed French enemy to explore New York Harbor, that William was a liar, a thief, fired officials without authority, and controlled legislators and judges by bribing them with money and position. All that information was not a lie, for it was the truth. A trial had begun.
Zenger refused to give out the names of the authors of the print, so they still remain anonymous. However, Zenger had back-up. And he knew that he had to take full responsibility of what was published in the journal. Andrew Hamilton, a famous lawyer from Philadelphia, stepped up to defend him. Hamilton admitted that Zenger had printed the charges, but he demanded the prosecution to prove them wrong. Andrew said, “It is not the cause of one poor printer, but the cause of liberty." The judge ordered the jury to convict Zenger if they believe he printed the stories. Ten minutes later, than jury had returned with a verdict of not guilty.
Cheers had filled the room, and Zenger and Hamilton were hailed as heroes. Indeed, this trial had gained us to power to freedom of speech and press. Although this freedom was not official until the first Amendment, publishers had felt more free to be able to print their honest views. Now, as the American Revolution approached, this particular freedom would become much more important. The colonies greatly appreciated this new freedom.
In the year of 1736, the Zenger trial was published in The Weekly Journal and was widely circulated in both New York and England. In 1737, John Peter Zenger became a public printer in both New York and New Jersey. He felt accomplished. After all, he did succeed his dreams!
Zenger was married twice. His first wife, Mary White Zenger whom he married in 1719, divorced very early into their marriage. Two years later, he married Anna Catherine Maulin Zenger in 1722. Throughout both marriages, he had four children whose names are Pieter Zenger, John Zenger, Catherine Zenger Lane, and Elizabeth Zenger Kook. On Friday, July 28th, 1746, at just 48 years old, John Peter Zenger died. How he died is unspecified.
Resources:
· http://www.ushistory.org/us/7c.asp
· http://www.iwosc.org/showcases/mwolf.html
· http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/bookmarks/zenger/
· http://www.historybuff.com/library/refzenger.html
· http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Peter_Zenger
· http://www.nndb.com/people/626/000207005/