William Hunter - Finding Free Speech

<p>In June 1798 President John Adams signed the now infamous Alien & Sedition Acts to suppress political dissent. </p><p>Facing imminent personal risks a gutsy Kentucky newspaper editor ran the first editorial denouncing the law's attempt to stifle the freedom of the press. </p><p><br></p><p>Almost immediately government lawyers recommended his arrest and prosecution.</p><p><br></p><p>That editor was William Hunter amazingly the son of a British soldier. </p><p><br></p><p>During the American Revolution he accompanied his father on a campaign to fight the American Rebels. Witnessing first-hand the terrors of combat and twice experiencing capture Hunter wrote the only surviving account written by a child of a British soldier during the American Revolution. Previously unknown the journal is one of the most important document discoveries in recent years.</p><p><br></p><p>Remarkably immigrating to an enemy country Hunter started the second newspaper west of the Alleghenies in Pennsylvania. Moving to Kentucky's capital Hunter spoke his mind as a newspaper editor took entrepreneurial risks and helped start educational and civic institutions. </p><p><br></p><p>Particularly compelling Hunter overcame two major personal setbacks that tarnished his character and left him bankrupt. Each time he tenaciously persevered and regained prominent stature.</p><p><br></p><p>Later Hunter became an elected Kentucky representative a staunch Andrew Jackson supporter and moved to Washington DC to root out fraud and waste in his administration. Beyond the well-known founders William Hunter represents a previously underappreciated community leader who made essential contributions to developing democratic and civic institutions in Early America.</p>