Died at 12 o'clock noon on July 3rd.
Son of Martha "Patsy" Hipkins Roane who married Archibald Ritchie. Thomas studied law like his famous maternal cousin Spencer Roane and later started the Richmond Enquirer and fought in the War of 1812. Richie County Virginia was named after him. Thomas' father, Col. Archibald Ritchie, Jr. (his parents were cousins) died when his son was only 6 years old.
"Tall and aristocratic, and always dressed in the silk stockings and low shoes of the old style; manager of most of Richmonds public balls" [and leader of the most prestigious Richmond social functions]."
Thomas Ritchie- American Journalist. By any standard, Thomas Ritchie's Richmond Enquirer was one of the most influential newspapers in antebellum America. Widely read and discussed, the Enquirer set the standard for southern journalism in the first half of the 19th century.
He was the founder of the Richmond Enquirer Newspaper (1804-1845) for the city of Richmond and the Washington Union (1845-1851) for the city of Washington D.C. At the urging of newly elected "Little Hickory" President Polk, Thomas Ritchie moved to Washington from Richmond.
Thomas Ritchie was in 1845 called from his long service on The Richmond Enquirer to found, on the remains of The Globe, the Washington Union, to speak for the Polk administration and to reconcile the factions of democracy.
At the end of his career, he quickly found that he was not intellectually or temperamentally suited to the task. His place was in Virginia, guiding its people and preserving its position in the Union; in this he was remarkably successful for more than forty years. That was his true calling and his true significance as a newspaper editor and as a person.
Thomas Jefferson is quoted as saying- "I read but a single newspaper, Ritchie's Enquirer, the best that is published or ever has been published in America." Ritchie was also called "the father of Democracy in Virginia." He was a leader of the Richmond Junto, a group that controlled Democratic politics at that time in the state of Virginia. Other members of the Richmond Junto were Ritchie's cousin, Judge Spencer Roane, son in law of the patriot Patrick Henry, and Dr. John Brockenbrough. He was a strong supporter of William Crawford and Andrew Jackson.
Copied from TONA Committee Biography of Historical Figures- "Printer to the Commonwealth of Virginia, edited the Richmond Enquirer from 1804 to 1845 and was one of the South's most-quoted Democratic Party spokesmen. The period from the 1830s to the 1850s was the high point of partisan journalism in the United States, and editors like Ritchie helped both state and national political leaders formulate their policies and sell those policies and candidates to the voters. An opponent during the 1820s of John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay and their plans to use the power of the national government to promote economic growth, Ritchie and many Democratic Party leaders in Virginia and in the South supported states' rights faction leaders such as Andrew Jackson. In 1845 former President Martin Van Buren asked Ritchie to move to Washington, D.C., to create a new national newspaper for the Democrats. Ritchie edited the Union until he retired in 1851, and was widely respected as one of the most influential Democrats in the United States."
Son of Martha "Patsy" Hipkins Roane who married Archibald Ritchie. Thomas studied law like his famous maternal cousin Spencer Roane and later started the Richmond Enquirer and fought in the War of 1812. Richie County Virginia was named after him. Thomas' father, Col. Archibald Ritchie, Jr. (his parents were cousins) died when his son was only 6 years old.
"Tall and aristocratic, and always dressed in the silk stockings and low shoes of the old style; manager of most of Richmonds public balls" [and leader of the most prestigious Richmond social functions]."
Thomas Ritchie- American Journalist. By any standard, Thomas Ritchie's Richmond Enquirer was one of the most influential newspapers in antebellum America. Widely read and discussed, the Enquirer set the standard for southern journalism in the first half of the 19th century.
He was the founder of the Richmond Enquirer Newspaper (1804-1845) for the city of Richmond and the Washington Union (1845-1851) for the city of Washington D.C. At the urging of newly elected "Little Hickory" President Polk, Thomas Ritchie moved to Washington from Richmond.
Thomas Ritchie was in 1845 called from his long service on The Richmond Enquirer to found, on the remains of The Globe, the Washington Union, to speak for the Polk administration and to reconcile the factions of democracy.
At the end of his career, he quickly found that he was not intellectually or temperamentally suited to the task. His place was in Virginia, guiding its people and preserving its position in the Union; in this he was remarkably successful for more than forty years. That was his true calling and his true significance as a newspaper editor and as a person.
Thomas Jefferson is quoted as saying- "I read but a single newspaper, Ritchie's Enquirer, the best that is published or ever has been published in America." Ritchie was also called "the father of Democracy in Virginia." He was a leader of the Richmond Junto, a group that controlled Democratic politics at that time in the state of Virginia. Other members of the Richmond Junto were Ritchie's cousin, Judge Spencer Roane, son in law of the patriot Patrick Henry, and Dr. John Brockenbrough. He was a strong supporter of William Crawford and Andrew Jackson.
Copied from TONA Committee Biography of Historical Figures- "Printer to the Commonwealth of Virginia, edited the Richmond Enquirer from 1804 to 1845 and was one of the South's most-quoted Democratic Party spokesmen. The period from the 1830s to the 1850s was the high point of partisan journalism in the United States, and editors like Ritchie helped both state and national political leaders formulate their policies and sell those policies and candidates to the voters. An opponent during the 1820s of John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay and their plans to use the power of the national government to promote economic growth, Ritchie and many Democratic Party leaders in Virginia and in the South supported states' rights faction leaders such as Andrew Jackson. In 1845 former President Martin Van Buren asked Ritchie to move to Washington, D.C., to create a new national newspaper for the Democrats. Ritchie edited the Union until he retired in 1851, and was widely respected as one of the most influential Democrats in the United States."
Died at 12 o'clock noon on July 3rd.
Son of Martha "Patsy" Hipkins Roane who married Archibald Ritchie. Thomas studied law like his famous maternal cousin Spencer Roane and later started the Richmond Enquirer and fought in the War of 1812. Richie County Virginia was named after him. Thomas' father, Col. Archibald Ritchie, Jr. (his parents were cousins) died when his son was only 6 years old.
"Tall and aristocratic, and always dressed in the silk stockings and low shoes of the old style; manager of most of Richmonds public balls" [and leader of the most prestigious Richmond social functions]."
Thomas Ritchie- American Journalist. By any standard, Thomas Ritchie's Richmond Enquirer was one of the most influential newspapers in antebellum America. Widely read and discussed, the Enquirer set the standard for southern journalism in the first half of the 19th century.
He was the founder of the Richmond Enquirer Newspaper (1804-1845) for the city of Richmond and the Washington Union (1845-1851) for the city of Washington D.C. At the urging of newly elected "Little Hickory" President Polk, Thomas Ritchie moved to Washington from Richmond.
Thomas Ritchie was in 1845 called from his long service on The Richmond Enquirer to found, on the remains of The Globe, the Washington Union, to speak for the Polk administration and to reconcile the factions of democracy.
At the end of his career, he quickly found that he was not intellectually or temperamentally suited to the task. His place was in Virginia, guiding its people and preserving its position in the Union; in this he was remarkably successful for more than forty years. That was his true calling and his true significance as a newspaper editor and as a person.
Thomas Jefferson is quoted as saying- "I read but a single newspaper, Ritchie's Enquirer, the best that is published or ever has been published in America." Ritchie was also called "the father of Democracy in Virginia." He was a leader of the Richmond Junto, a group that controlled Democratic politics at that time in the state of Virginia. Other members of the Richmond Junto were Ritchie's cousin, Judge Spencer Roane, son in law of the patriot Patrick Henry, and Dr. John Brockenbrough. He was a strong supporter of William Crawford and Andrew Jackson.
Copied from TONA Committee Biography of Historical Figures- "Printer to the Commonwealth of Virginia, edited the Richmond Enquirer from 1804 to 1845 and was one of the South's most-quoted Democratic Party spokesmen. The period from the 1830s to the 1850s was the high point of partisan journalism in the United States, and editors like Ritchie helped both state and national political leaders formulate their policies and sell those policies and candidates to the voters. An opponent during the 1820s of John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay and their plans to use the power of the national government to promote economic growth, Ritchie and many Democratic Party leaders in Virginia and in the South supported states' rights faction leaders such as Andrew Jackson. In 1845 former President Martin Van Buren asked Ritchie to move to Washington, D.C., to create a new national newspaper for the Democrats. Ritchie edited the Union until he retired in 1851, and was widely respected as one of the most influential Democrats in the United States."
Son of Martha "Patsy" Hipkins Roane who married Archibald Ritchie. Thomas studied law like his famous maternal cousin Spencer Roane and later started the Richmond Enquirer and fought in the War of 1812. Richie County Virginia was named after him. Thomas' father, Col. Archibald Ritchie, Jr. (his parents were cousins) died when his son was only 6 years old.
"Tall and aristocratic, and always dressed in the silk stockings and low shoes of the old style; manager of most of Richmonds public balls" [and leader of the most prestigious Richmond social functions]."
Thomas Ritchie- American Journalist. By any standard, Thomas Ritchie's Richmond Enquirer was one of the most influential newspapers in antebellum America. Widely read and discussed, the Enquirer set the standard for southern journalism in the first half of the 19th century.
He was the founder of the Richmond Enquirer Newspaper (1804-1845) for the city of Richmond and the Washington Union (1845-1851) for the city of Washington D.C. At the urging of newly elected "Little Hickory" President Polk, Thomas Ritchie moved to Washington from Richmond.
Thomas Ritchie was in 1845 called from his long service on The Richmond Enquirer to found, on the remains of The Globe, the Washington Union, to speak for the Polk administration and to reconcile the factions of democracy.
At the end of his career, he quickly found that he was not intellectually or temperamentally suited to the task. His place was in Virginia, guiding its people and preserving its position in the Union; in this he was remarkably successful for more than forty years. That was his true calling and his true significance as a newspaper editor and as a person.
Thomas Jefferson is quoted as saying- "I read but a single newspaper, Ritchie's Enquirer, the best that is published or ever has been published in America." Ritchie was also called "the father of Democracy in Virginia." He was a leader of the Richmond Junto, a group that controlled Democratic politics at that time in the state of Virginia. Other members of the Richmond Junto were Ritchie's cousin, Judge Spencer Roane, son in law of the patriot Patrick Henry, and Dr. John Brockenbrough. He was a strong supporter of William Crawford and Andrew Jackson.
Copied from TONA Committee Biography of Historical Figures- "Printer to the Commonwealth of Virginia, edited the Richmond Enquirer from 1804 to 1845 and was one of the South's most-quoted Democratic Party spokesmen. The period from the 1830s to the 1850s was the high point of partisan journalism in the United States, and editors like Ritchie helped both state and national political leaders formulate their policies and sell those policies and candidates to the voters. An opponent during the 1820s of John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay and their plans to use the power of the national government to promote economic growth, Ritchie and many Democratic Party leaders in Virginia and in the South supported states' rights faction leaders such as Andrew Jackson. In 1845 former President Martin Van Buren asked Ritchie to move to Washington, D.C., to create a new national newspaper for the Democrats. Ritchie edited the Union until he retired in 1851, and was widely respected as one of the most influential Democrats in the United States."
Inscription
In memory of
THOMAS RITCHIE,
Founder of the Richmond Enquirer,
and, for more than forty years,
the controlling spirit of that Journal.
Born 5. November 1778.
Died 3. July 1854.
It may be said of him with truth,
in his own words,
"He never turned his back upon his country,
was always devoted to his friends,
and never dreaded his enemies."
With a clear head, honest heart, and
indomitable energy, he laboured
for half a century; more for the good
of his country, than for personal advancement.
Family Members
Siblings
Children
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
