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Elijah Lovejoy was a reverend and printer in Alton, Illinois, in the 1830s. He was the editor for the Alton Observer<\/em>, a religious newspaper with a pro-abolition stance. His journey to Alton was not a smooth one. He had three printing presses destroyed before he settled in Alton\u2014all three times the vandalism was in response to abolitionist editorials in his newspaper. On November 7th<\/sup>, 1837, a mob gathered outside of the warehouse that held his printing press. After exchanging gunfire with the crowd, Lovejoy was killed and his press was destroyed a fourth and final time. He was buried on November 9th<\/sup>, what would have been his 35th<\/sup> birthday.<\/p>\n A year after his death, Elijah\u2019s brothers Owen and Joseph published a memoir about his life and work as an abolitionist printer and minister. In the introduction, Owen and Joseph refer to their brother as a \u201cmartyr to the freedom of the press, and to the freedom of the slave.\u201d[1]<\/a> This book, along with several others published about the event, show that Lovejoy was well-respected in his community for his views and commitment to freedom. The Lovejoy brothers write that \u201cthe only valid accusation\u2026against him is; that he too much revered the command, \u2018Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.\u2019\u201d[2]<\/a><\/p>\n According to the newspaper clipping pasted into this copy, Lovejoy\u2019s murderers soon met their own gruesome fates. The clipping also recounts how Lovejoy\u2019s murder gave Alton a bad reputation in the area and caused many to move away altogether. Lovejoy\u2019s legacy outside of Alton is one of journalistic freedom and fearlessness, due to his commitment to writing against slavery despite the attacks that ultimately ended his life.<\/p>\n Alton observer. Alton [Ill.] : Elijah P. Lovejoy, 1836-1838. BASK 205 AL<\/a><\/p>\n Memoir of the Rev. Elijah P. Lovejoy ; who was murdered in defence of the liberty of the press, at Alton, Illinois, Nov. 7, 1837 by Joseph C. and Owen Lovejoy ; with an introduction by John Quincy Adams. New York : J.S. Taylor, 1838. BASK 973.7114 L94WE<\/a> Copy 3<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/rbx\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2018\/11\/lovejoy-memoir-title-page-581x1024.jpg\"){kind=spacer}
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