Jonas Green
Jonas Green was an influential printer, publisher, and literary figure in early America, known for his contributions to the field of printing and literature in the 18th century. Born into a family of printers in New England, he began his career in Boston before moving to Philadelphia, where he made a significant mark by independently printing the first book of Hebrew grammar in America in 1735. After marrying Ann Catherine Hoof in 1738, Green settled in Annapolis, Maryland, where he served as the public printer for the state. In this role, he published important works by notable Maryland authors and revitalized the nearly defunct Maryland Gazette, which became a platform for addressing key scientific, political, and literary issues of the time. Green was an active participant in the literary scene, particularly known for his involvement with the Annapolis Wits and the literary disputes with the Baltimore Bards. A member of Dr. Alexander Hamilton's Tuesday Club, he was also an essayist and poet, contributing to the club’s legacy as a gathering of writers who enjoyed humor and satire. His poetry is featured in "The History of the Tuesday Club," underscoring his multifaceted contributions to American literature and printing.
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Subject Terms
Jonas Green
Writer
- Born: December 28, 1712
- Died: April 11, 1767
Biography
Jonas Green was born to a family of printers in New England. He learned the trade of printing from his father, and in 1734 he began working for a Boston printing firm. A year later, Green relocated to Philadelphia to work in a different firm, and that same year he independently printed the first book of Hebrew grammar in America: Dickdook leshon gnebreet: A Grammar of the Hebrew Tongue. In 1738, Green married Ann Catherine Hoof, and together they moved to Annapolis, Maryland, where Green had been appointed the public printer of the state. In this position Green published works by distinguished Maryland men of letters such as Dr. Alexander Hamilton, Reverends Thomas Bacon and Thomas Cradock, and others.
In 1745, Green revived and began publishing the nearly defunct Maryland Gazette. Under Green’s editorial leadership, the Maryland Gazette examined the important scientific, political, religious, and literary issues of the time. It also featured the literary dispute between the Annapolis Wits (of which Green was a member) and the Baltimore Bards; members of each group displayed their command of language through verses. Outside of his work as Maryland’s public printer and the editor of the Maryland Gazette, Green was also an essayist and poet. His literary endeavors led him to become a member of Dr. Alexander Hamilton’s Tuesday Club of Annapolis, a group of writers that enjoyed humor and satire. Green’s poetry appears in the book The History of the Tuesday Club.