John Binns, English Politician and Editor, Died June 24, 1860

Editor John Binns died in Philadelphia June 24, 1860, at the advanced age of eighty-eight years, each one of which was one of prominence, either in England or America.

In 1854 he wrote the “Recollections of the Life of John Binns; Twenty-nine Years in Europe and Fifty-three in the United States.” In the introduction he says:

“Soon after my arrival in the United States, which was on the first day of September, 1801, I was urged by the late Dr. Joseph Priestley, his son Joseph, and Thomas Cooper, Esq., to write my life. They were among my earliest American acquaintances, and continued my zealous and faithful friends to their death. Some few American gentlemen who have subsequently, in Philadelphia, read the account of my arrest and examination before the Privy Council in London, and my trials for sedition and high treason in 1797 and 1798, have also urged me to publish my Recollections. Let these facts be received as an apology for this publication.”

John Binns was born in Dublin, Ireland, son of John and Mary Pemberton Binns. His father’s family were Moravians; his mother’s Episcopalians. His father was drowned at sea when John was two years old. He left a comfortable estate, and John and his brother and sister received a liberal education. His mother married again when John was yet in school.

When fourteen years old John Binns was apprenticed to a soap 434boiler, but on the death of his grandfather he purchased his apprentice fee and took a deep interest in politics. He left Dublin April, 1794, and went to London. Then his troubles began.

John Binns was first arrested March 11, 1796, at Birmingham, and confined in the dungeon, but his trial was postponed until August. In the interim he returned to Dublin, but returned for his trial, when he was acquitted.

He was soon again arrested together with two celebrated politicians at Margate and imprisoned at London. He was discharged and again rearrested on a charge of high treason, then sent to the Tower of London, from which he was removed to Maidstone Jail. He was again tried and acquitted, following a serious riot in court, May 24, 1798. He was next arrested and imprisoned in Gloucester, where he was frequently visited by many persons of distinction.

During this imprisonment Binns determined he would go to the United States as soon as liberated. July 1, 1801, he embarked for Baltimore, arriving there September 1 after a stormy and perilous voyage.

Upon his arrival he loaded his goods on three wagons and set out on foot for Northumberland, Pa., where he purposed to reside. At Harrisburg he hired a boat to take his goods and himself as a passenger up the river to Northumberland.

Binns was given a hearty welcome by Dr. Priestley and Judge Cooper, and soon became a most prominent resident. He was invited to deliver the oration on July 4, 1802, and his effort stamped him as a most learned and eloquent speaker.

Binns established the Republican Argus at Northumberland, and his success exceeded his fondest expectations. It soon became one of the prominent papers of the State. He was a bold and determined man and wielded a severe pen.

December 14, 1805, Binns fought a duel with Samuel Stewart, of Williamsport, a member of the Legislature.

In January, 1807, friends in Philadelphia urged him to remove to that city and establish a Democratic newspaper. He sounded members of the Quid Party and found them willing to support Snyder, but they would not do so under the leadership of William Duane, editor of the Aurora.

Binns removed to Philadelphia and established the Democratic Press, March 27, 1807. This was the first paper which used the word “Democratic” in its title.

May 15 Binns delivered the “Long Talk” before the Tammany Society, which caused him in September to be dismissed from the society. Then the fight between the Aurora and Democratic Press opened in all its fury, and the battle for the leadership between Duane and Dr. Leib on one side and John Binns on the other was commenced.

Binns came out against Dr. Leib for Assembly and Duane for the 435Senate. The former was elected, but Duane was badly beaten. This was the Aurora’s first defeat and it groaned aloud.

Binns was powerful in the election of Snyder in 1808. He had brought back the Constitutional Republicans into the fold and was able to control the party against both Duane and Leib.

Dr. Leib was elected to the United States Senate early in 1809, but Governor Snyder’s course was by no means pleasing to Duane. The Press defended him, while the Aurora criticized everything he did. The Aurora threatened to impeach the Governor, and Binns called the Aurora and its supporters “The Philadelphia Junto.”

Binns and his party favored war with England, and here again he came into opposition with “Leib, Duane & Co.,” as the Press called them.

Duane and Leib lost all control of the Legislature. In 1811 the Federalists were successful, and Snyder was overwhelmingly re-elected. The Aurora published nothing about the impending war, the Press supported every movement which forwarded its progress, and this was the popular side. Governor Snyder appointed his friend Binns as aide-de-camp, and he was active throughout the war.

Leib was appointed Postmaster at Philadelphia in February, 1814, but Binns succeeded in having Postmaster General Granger removed, and his successor immediately removed Leib, who then disappeared from the political field.

Duane soon followed Leib into political obscurity and Binns was in the zenith of his power. Had Binns not quarreled with Findlay soon as his election he would have held his power for many more years. It was particularly unfortunate that he opposed the election of Andrew Jackson in 1824 and afterward.

He was appointed an alderman by Governor Hiester in 1822, a position he held for many years.

The Democratic Press was issued for the last time on November 14, 1829, it having been absorbed by the Philadelphia Inquirer.

In 1840 Binns published “A Digest of the Laws and Judicial Decisions of Pennsylvania Touching of Authority of Justices of the Peace,” which was revised and republished under the title “Magistrate’s Manual,” a book popularly known as “Binns’ Justice.”

Binns held a number of positions of honor and trust, among which was directorship of the Pennsylvania Bank.

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