Robertson, James

  • DICTIONARY OF CANADIAN BIOGRAPHY ARTICLE: F. L. Pigot, “ROBERTSON, JAMES (1747-1816),” in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 5, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–. https://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/robertson_james_1747_1816_5E.html
  • DCB profile notes:
    • Printer, publisher, and office holder; b. 1747 in Stonehaven, Scotland; d. 24 April 1816 in Edinburgh, Scotland.
    • According to his own testimony, James Robertson immigrated to North America in 1766 and was joined there by his brother Alexander two years later. For some time after his arrival James worked as a journeyman with the printing firm of Mein and Fleming in Boston, Mass., but by 1768 he was in New York City, where on 8 May 1769 he and Alexander began publication of the New-York Chronicle. 
    • Concentrating on their Albany enterprise, the brothers were active in publishing loyalist pieces. James later claimed that they had been the only printers in America openly to support the crown in an area where there had been no British troops to offer protection. 
    • James subsequently published the Royal Pennsylvania Gazette (Philadelphia) for a few months in 1778 and the Royal South-Carolina Gazette (Charleston) from 1780 to 1782. Reunited in New York at the end of the British occupation of Charleston, the brothers continued the Royal American Gazette until 1783.
    • They then joined the exodus to Nova Scotia, settling in Shelburne, where they re-established their newspaper. At least from March to July 1784 James was in England, petitioning the loyalist claims commission for compensation for the losses he and his brother had suffered during the war. 
  • United Empire Loyalist listed in Loyalist Directory: https://uelac.ca/loyalist-directory/detail/?wpda_search_column_id=13393
  • Find a GRAVE: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/132345039/james-robertson