Josiah Blackburn 1823-1890

The son of a Congregationalist minister, Blackburn was born in London, England. After some experience in journalism he immigrated to Canada West (now Ontario) in 1850 and joined the staff of The Star in Paris. Two years later he purchased a small London weekly, The Canadian Free Press, from its founder, William Sutherland. Blackburn's keen business sense and flair for political writing made this newspaper a success. In 1855 he began a daily, The London Free Press and Daily Western Advertiser - later, The London Free Press. He also controlled The Ingersoll Chronicle and helped found The Mail in Toronto. An ardent liberal who later became an equally fervent conservative, he was one of the province's most influential newspaper publishers.