Printer and newspaper publisher John Dunlap was born in Strabane, Northern Ireland and came to the American Colonies as a boy of ten. John was apprenticed to his uncle William Dunlap, a printer in Philadelphia, whose wife was a niece of Deborah Read Franklin, the wife of Benjamin Franklin. As his uncle wished to pursue a calling in divinity, John took the printing business over from him in 1766. By 1771, he was printing a weekly newspaper, "The Pennsylvania Packet or The General Advertiser". In 1774 he was a founder of The 1st Troop of Philadelphia City Cavalry and was engaged with them in the actions at Trenton and Princeton as bodyguards to General Washington. After he was named printer to The Continental Congress and to the State of Pennsylvania, it became his charge to print the first copies of The Declaration of Independence in July, 1776. Known as "The Dunlap Broadside", the typeset was based on Jefferson's manuscript, updated under the supervision of Benjamin Franklin and John Hancock. It was then distributed to the Colonial Assemblies. He also printed much of Pennsylvania's colonial currency. In 1780, Dunlap subscribed £4000 for the purpose of supplying provisions to the Continental Army. In September 1784, Dunlap's Pennsylvania Packet or General Advertiser became the first daily newspaper in the United States. For a time prior to 1787, Dunlap and his family lived in the "Declaration House" on the SW corner of Market and Seventh Streets in Philadelphia, where Thomas Jefferson stayed in 1776 while he drafted the Declaration. The family moved in 1797 into the fine mansion he had built in 1790 at Market and Twelfth Streets. In 1812, he suffered a stroke and died. He was survived by his wife Elizabeth and six daughters. Harriet, born June 15, 1785 married Joseph Parham in 1809. Christ Church records show John and Elizabeth Dunlap had three sons named John baptized, in 1781, 1784 and 1786. It appears no sons survived to adulthood.
Printer and newspaper publisher John Dunlap was born in Strabane, Northern Ireland and came to the American Colonies as a boy of ten. John was apprenticed to his uncle William Dunlap, a printer in Philadelphia, whose wife was a niece of Deborah Read Franklin, the wife of Benjamin Franklin. As his uncle wished to pursue a calling in divinity, John took the printing business over from him in 1766. By 1771, he was printing a weekly newspaper, "The Pennsylvania Packet or The General Advertiser". In 1774 he was a founder of The 1st Troop of Philadelphia City Cavalry and was engaged with them in the actions at Trenton and Princeton as bodyguards to General Washington. After he was named printer to The Continental Congress and to the State of Pennsylvania, it became his charge to print the first copies of The Declaration of Independence in July, 1776. Known as "The Dunlap Broadside", the typeset was based on Jefferson's manuscript, updated under the supervision of Benjamin Franklin and John Hancock. It was then distributed to the Colonial Assemblies. He also printed much of Pennsylvania's colonial currency. In 1780, Dunlap subscribed £4000 for the purpose of supplying provisions to the Continental Army. In September 1784, Dunlap's Pennsylvania Packet or General Advertiser became the first daily newspaper in the United States. For a time prior to 1787, Dunlap and his family lived in the "Declaration House" on the SW corner of Market and Seventh Streets in Philadelphia, where Thomas Jefferson stayed in 1776 while he drafted the Declaration. The family moved in 1797 into the fine mansion he had built in 1790 at Market and Twelfth Streets. In 1812, he suffered a stroke and died. He was survived by his wife Elizabeth and six daughters. Harriet, born June 15, 1785 married Joseph Parham in 1809. Christ Church records show John and Elizabeth Dunlap had three sons named John baptized, in 1781, 1784 and 1786. It appears no sons survived to adulthood.
Bio by: Census taker
Inscription
Sacred to the
Memory of
JOHN DUNLAP, Esq
Who departed this life
November 27, 1812
Aged 66 years.
