Joseph Charless

Joseph Charless (16 July 1772 – 28 July 1834), born Joseph Charles, was an Irish immigrant to the United States, where he became known as a printer, publisher and editor, founding three newspapers in Kentucky and Missouri in the early 19th-century. After working in Philadelphia, he moved and founded the Independent Gazeteer and the Louisville Gazette, both in Kentucky, and lastly, Missouri Gazette in St. Louis, Missouri.

Early life and education Joseph Charles was born on 16 July 1772, in Killicun, County Westmeath, Leinster, Ireland. He was of Welsh descent, the son of Edward and Ann Chapman Charles. As a young man he took part in the Irish Rebellion of 1795 and was forced to flee the country for France.

Immigration, career and marriage He immigrated to America, arriving in New York City in 1796.

What was described as "one of the most important incidents in the . . . history of Missouri journalism took place" in the Missouri Gazette office on 6 February 1814, when five men, one of them armed with a sword, confronted Charless. They demanded to know who had written an article signed "Q," which had criticized the military qualifications of U.S. General Benjamin Howard. Refused, the men left, but later "The direct result of the encounter was the founding in May 1815 of Missouri's second newspaper, the Western Journal, by Charless's enemies." Howard was the first governor of the Missouri Territory and fought in the War of 1812, still underway at the time of this incident.