| Samuel Cornish | |
|---|---|
| Born | Samuel Eli Cornish 1795 Sussex County, Delaware, USA |
| Died | 6 November 1858 (aged 63) Brooklyn, New York, USA |
| Occupation | Journalist |
| Notable credit(s) | Freedom's Journal Colored American Rights of All |
Samuel Eli Cornish (1795 – 6 November 1858) was an American abolitionist, journalist, and Presbyterian minister.
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Cornish was born in Sussex County, Delaware, to free parents. In 1815, he moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After moving to New York City in 1821, Cornish organized a congregation of black Presbyterians.
When he was ordained in 1822, this parish was officially established as the New Demeter Street Presbyterian Church, making it the first black Presbyterian Church in New York City. He later ministered at the First African Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, and'Emmanuel Church in New York City. Cornish held high-ranking positions within the American Bible Society and the American Missionary Society.
Cornish was one of the founding members of the American Anti-Slavery Society, remaining with the Society from 1833 to 1840. In 1840, Cornish left the American Anti-Slavery Society to join the newly formed American and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society, largely over disputes with William Lloyd Garrison over religion in the Abolitionist movement. Cornish used his position as a journalist and editor to inform the public on the issues involving Abolitionism.
Samuel Cornish and John Russwurm started the first black newspaper in March 1827, calling it Freedom's Journal. Cornish left Freedom's Journal in September 1827. He returned to the paper in 1829, after the journal was in decline due to Russwurm's editorship; changing the name of the journal to The Rights of All. Cornish later was editor for Colored American from 1837 to 1839.
Samuel Cornish married Jane Livingston in 1824 in New York city, where Samuel Cornish lived most of his life. The couple had four children. Cornish died on November 6, 1858 in Brooklyn, New York. He was 63 years old.