The story of journalism on Prince Edward Island, includes luminary figures like Edward Whelan who founded the Examiner in 1847. The same paper would become the Island's first daily and perhaps reveals a story of friendly competition between two relatives. Henry Lawson (1829-1897) had served as editor of the Examiner in the 1860s but had moved over to the Patriot. His nephew, William Lawson Cotton (1848-1928), took the Examiner's helm in 1873 and created the Island’s first daily news in 1877 issuing the Examiner daily and renaming his existing weekly paper, the Weekly Examiner.
Henry Lawson, was not outdone and in 1881 converted the Patriot into a daily as well. Nipping at both their heels was the Evening News which by 1884 was a third daily. While PEI had seen various publications come and go since 1787 thanks to the efforts of the uncle and nephew, Islanders had a variety of daily newspapers to choose from. Their pioneering efforts established daily news for Prince Edward Islanders.
William Lawson Cotton, known to family as Will, had a career of 49 years as editor before stepping aside. Although retired as editor and publisher he continued to write historical articles and a book called Chapters in our Island Story was the result. Will's Examiner merged with the Charlottetown Guardian in 1915 and eventually was absorbed by that paper in 1922.
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| William Lawson Cotton (1848-1928) From the Illustrated Historical Atlas of the Province of Prince Edward Island published in 1880 by the J. H. Meacham Company, |
His Uncle Henry's paper, the Patriot, would see many name changes long after he had moved to Victoria BC. From Daily Patriot 1881, Island Patriot 1910, Prince Edward Island Patriot, 1920, Charlottetown Patriot, 1923, and Evening Patriot 1924. Eventually it would fold into the same ownership as the Guardian functioned as an afternoon edition but with a strong focus on local content. It was published on a distinctive peach coloured paper which stood out among other papers. It ceased publication on June 9, 1995.
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| William Lawson Cotton at top left - Henry Lawson at top right From the Illustrated Historical Atlas of the Province of Prince Edward Island published in 1880 by the J. H. Meacham Company, |
Henry Lawson was a parliamentary correspondent reporting from Ottawa during the sittings of the House by travelling to the capital for the duration of each sittings.
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Henry Lawson 1829-1897
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The best chronology of Prince Edward Island newspapers was compiled by Heather Boylan in 1987 for the Public Archives of Prince Edward Island. Called Checklist and Historical Directory of Prince Edward Island Newspapers 1787-1986 it is a coil bound volume of 211 pages that outlines the history of each publication and names of editors and publishers, as well as locations of microfilm copies or originals. It also provides a year by year listing of papers published in any given year and the present locations for accessing them.
An item published by the Times-Colonist in Victoria BC indicates:
Henry Lawson, Colonist editor -- 1888-1897
Henry Lawson served as editor of the Colonist for eight years, until his death in 1897. Lawson left school at an early age and was largely self-educated. After working as a teacher and school principal, he turned to journalism, and spent 40 years in the field, starting in Prince Edward Island. He worked as editor of the Summerside Progress, then the Charlottetown Patriot. After he bought the Patriot he made himself its Ottawa correspondent when Parliament was in session.
After he sold his newspaper he worked for several others across Canada. he was offered the editor's job at the Colonist in the fall of 1888. Lawson's daughter Maria continued to work at the Colonist after he died. She retired from the paper in 1934 at the age of 82.
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| Henry Lawson 1829-1897 Image from family collection of Daphne & Ian Scott |
Additional resources:
- Dictionary of Canadian Biography entry on William Lawson Cotton.
- Article Journalists Follow in Fathers' Footsteps regarding Henry Lawson and his daughter Maria Lawson.
- The Guardian: Our History written by Gary MacDougall, a former managing editor at The Guardian.
- About Patriot - Island Newspapers -- UPEI Robertson Library
- Checklist and Historical Directory of Prince Edward Island newspapers 1787-1986 by Heather Boylan
