William Bradford (1722-1791)

William Bradford (1722-1791) was a printer, soldier, and leader during the American Revolution from Philadelphia. He was born in New York City in 1719, and was the grandson of the printer William Bradford. He was apprenticed to (and later a partner of) his uncle Andrew Bradford in Philadelphia. This relationship ended in 1741. He visited England that year, returning in 1742 with equipment to open his own printing firm as well as a library.

William was the publisher of The Pennsylvania Journal, whose first number appeared on December 2, 1742. In later years each issue had the still-recognized image of the snake chopped into segments with the motto Unite or Die. Variations of this logo were also used by Paul Revere, Benjamin Franklin, and others. In 1754 he also opened the London Coffeehouse in Philadelphia and began to write marine insurance. As a publisher and writer he attacked many policies of the British government, and was especially vocal in his opposition to the Stamp Act in 1765.

The first Continental Congress met in Philadelphia in 1774, and Bradford was named as the official printer for the Congress. In this role he printed the formal resolutions, broadsides, and documents such as the Declaration of Rights, that the Congress issued. But when the war actually started, he left his business in his son's hands and joined the Pennsylvania militia.

He was made a Major, and later promoted to Colonel. He saw action at Trenton and Princeton, and at Fort Mifflin. The wound he received at the battle of Princeton continued to trouble him. When British forces withdrew from Philadelphia he resigned from the army and returned to the city.

His son Thomas had continued The Pennsylvania Journal during his absence. Now they became partners, and over the years expanded their publishing house. After William's death on September 25, 1791 Thomas continued their enterprise. A second son, William (sometimes called William, Jr.), followed him into the army, became a lawyer and was later Chief Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and U. S. Attorney General.