Joseph Gales, Sr.

Joseph Gales (4 February 1761 – 21 July 1841) was an American journalist, newspaper publisher and political figure. He was the father of the younger Joseph Gales.

Life in Britain Gales was born in Eckington, Derbyshire, in England to Timothy Gales and Sarah (Clay). He left to undertake a printing apprenticeship in Manchester, but left after he was attacked by his master's wife. Soon after, he completed his apprenticeship with James Tomlinson in Newark, Nottinghamshire. While in Newark, he married Winifred Marshall, a novelist and political writer.

In 1784, Gales moved to Sheffield in Yorkshire. Shortly after moving to Sheffield, he became a Unitarian, and took up various Radical causes, advocating religious tolerance, Parliamentary reform and the abolition of slavery, and opposing boxing and bull-baiting. The newspaper focussed on reporting local news, and on reprinting tracts by reformers such as Paine and Joseph Priestley.

In 1789, Martin left the partnership. He then established the Independent Gazetteer newspaper. It became well known as a Whig-supporting paper.

From 1819 to 1833, Gales served as "intendant of police," or mayor, of Raleigh. He was also an officer in the local chapter of the American Colonization Society, and acted as state printer.

In his later years, Gales moved to Washington, D.C., and became treasurer of the National Colonization Society.

Gales returned to Raleigh in 1839. He was again elected mayor in January 1840 and held the office until his death in 1841. He is buried in Raleigh's City Cemetery.