William Bradford (1722-1791)

The American Magazine and monthly chronicle for the British Colonies. Volume I. Containing from October 1757 to October 1758 inclusive. By a Society of Gentlemen. [Edited by Rev. William Smith] Philadelphia: Printed and sold by William Bradford at the corner house in Front and Market-Streets, 1758.

William, American Revolutionary printer and patriot, was grandson of early Philadelphia printer William Bradford (1663-1752). He learned printing from his uncle, Andrew Bradford, in Philadelphia, and in 1742 set up his own shop. He established the successful anti-British Weekly Advertiser, which competed for many years with Benjamin Franklin’s newspaper, the Pennsylvania Gazette. He also printed a number of books. In 1754 he established the London Coffee House in Philadelphia; this became the seat of the merchants’ exchange. Bradford was a leader of the Sons of Liberty and official printer to the First Continental Congress. He became a major in the Continental Army and was badly wounded at Princeton. In 1766, William entered into a partnership with his son, Thomas Bradford, who carried on the business until 1814.

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