Thomas Eastin

From Pensapedia, the Pensacola encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Thomas Eastin (1788?-1865) was a traveling printer who had published newspapers in Tennessee, Alabama and elsewhere before coming to Pensacola, where he established the Florida Argus in 1828. Competing with the Pensacola Gazette for limited patrons, the Argus ran for only five months, from June 17 until November 18.[1]

Thereafter Eastin traveled south to Key West, where he founded the Register newspaper. Eastin was one of many newspapermen appointed to political office by President Andrew Jackson as recompense for favorable editorials; in Key West he was appointed inspector of the federal customs house and marshall of Florida's southern district.[2]

Eastin seems to have returned to Pensacola by 1839 and was appointed navy agent at the port of Pensacola by President Martin Van Buren. He was removed from the post, however, on December 19, 1840, for having "failed to settle [his] accounts as required by law."[3]

He later moved to Mount Vernon, Alabama, and died in 1865 at age 77.[1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Douglas C. McMurtrie. "The Beginnings of Printing in Florida." Florida Historical Quarterly, 1944.
  2. http://pasleybrothers.com/newspols/Jackson_appointees.htm
  3. Benjamin Perley. Trial of Andrew Johnson.