# Samuel Cornish > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Samuel_Cornish > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Samuel_Cornish.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Cornish > Source revision: 1354433559 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Not to be confused with the Royal Navy officer [Sir Samuel Cornish, 1st Baronet](/source/Sir_Samuel_Cornish,_1st_Baronet). **Samuel Eli Cornish** (1795 – November 6, 1858) was an American [Presbyterian minister](/source/Presbyterian_minister), [abolitionist](/source/Abolitionism_in_the_United_States), [publisher](/source/Publisher), and [journalist](/source/Journalist). He was a leader in New York City's small [free black](/source/Free_Negro) community, where he organized the first congregation of black Presbyterians in New York.[1] In 1827 he became one of two editors of the newly founded *[Freedom's Journal](/source/Freedom's_Journal)*, the first black newspaper in the United States. In 1833 he was a founding member of the interracial [American Anti-Slavery Society](/source/American_Anti-Slavery_Society). ## Biography ### Early life and education Cornish was born in [Sussex County](/source/Sussex_County_(Delaware)), [Delaware](/source/Delaware), in 1795, to [free](/source/Free_Negro) parents of mixed race. As a young man, in 1815 he moved to [Philadelphia, Pennsylvania](/source/Philadelphia,_Pennsylvania), which had a large community of free blacks. After moving to [New York City](/source/New_York_City) in 1856, Cornish organized the first congregation of black [Presbyterians](/source/Presbyterians) in the city. ### Career When Cornish was ordained in 1822, his parish was officially established as the New Demeter Street Presbyterian Church, making it the first black Presbyterian Church in New York City. He later ministered at the First African Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, and Emmanuel Church in New York City. Cornish held high-ranking positions within the [American Bible Society](/source/American_Bible_Society) and the [American Missionary Association](/source/American_Missionary_Association), founded in 1846. He was one of the four founding black members; there were a total of 12 founders. He was also a member of [Prince Hall Freemasonry](/source/Prince_Hall_Freemasonry).[2] In March 1827 he became one of two editors of *[Freedom's Journal](/source/Freedom's_Journal)*, the first black newspaper in the United States. The other editor was [John Russwurm](/source/John_Russwurm).[3] It was intended to serve the 300,000 free blacks in the country and especially New York's community, as well as to offset the racist commentary of local papers in the city.[4] Cornish left the paper in September 1827, likely due to pressure from Presbyterian colleagues [Samuel Miller](/source/Samuel_Miller_(theologian)) and [Archibald Alexander](/source/Archibald_Alexander) over attacks against the [American Colonization Society](/source/American_Colonization_Society) by Russwurm in the paper.[5] During the two years Russwurm was in sole charge of *Freedom's Journal*, he reversed his position on colonization and lost many readers. He emigrated to [Liberia](/source/Liberia) in 1829. Cornish returned to the paper and tried to revive it, changing the name to *[The Rights of All](/source/The_Rights_of_All),* but the paper folded in less than a year. Cornish later was editor for the *Weekly Advocate*, later renamed the *[Colored American](/source/The_Colored_American_(New_York_City))*, from 1837 to 1839. The paper was owned by [Philip Alexander Bell](/source/Philip_Alexander_Bell).[6] In 1833 Cornish was one of the founding members of the [American Anti-Slavery Society](/source/American_Anti-Slavery_Society), whose membership and leaders were interracial. He was active with them until 1840. That year, he left to join the newly formed [American and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society](/source/American_and_Foreign_Anti-Slavery_Society), largely because of disputes with [William Lloyd Garrison](/source/William_Lloyd_Garrison) over religion in the [Abolitionist movement](/source/Abolitionism_in_the_United_States). Cornish used his position as a journalist and editor to inform the public on the issues involving abolitionism. ### Personal life Samuel Cornish married Jane Livingston in 1824 in New York City, where he lived most of his life. The couple had four children. Cornish died on November 6, 1858, in [Brooklyn, New York](/source/Brooklyn,_New_York). He was 63 years old. ## See also - [List of African-American abolitionists](/source/List_of_African-American_abolitionists) ## References 1. Hudson, Wade, *Powerful Words* (2004), New York: Scholastic Inc., p. 13. 1. Ernest, John (2011). *A nation within a nation: organizing African-American communities before the Civil War*. American Ways Series. Chicago: Ivan R. Dee, Inc. p. 101. ISBN 978-1-56663-807-4. 1. James, Winston (2010). *The Struggles of John Brown Russwurm*. New York, NY: New York University Press. p. 25. ISBN 978-0-8147-4289-1. 1. James (2010). *The Struggles of John Brown Russwurm*. pp. 28–29. 1. James (2010). *The Struggles of John Brown Russwurm*. pp. 41–42. 1. ["Freedom's Journal"](https://www.pbs.org/blackpress/news_bios/newbios/nwsppr/freedom/freedom.html), *Black Press*, PBS, n.d. Retrieved May 30, 2012. ## Further reading - Dann, Martin. *The Black Press, 1827-1890: The Quest for National Identity*. New York: G.P. Putnam Sons, 1971. - Penn, I. Garland. *The Afro-American Press and its Editors*. Salem, New Hampshire: Ayer Company, Publishers, Inc., 1891. ## External links - Hodges, Graham Russell (2000). ["Cornish, Samuel Eli"](http://www.anb.org/articles/15/15-00147.html). American National Biography Online. Retrieved February 27, 2008. - [Spartacus Educational: Samuel Cornish](http://www.spartacus-educational.com/USAScornish.htm) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Samuel Cornish](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Cornish) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Cornish?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.