Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Joseph Moses Levy

Role / Field:

Influential British newspaper editor and publisher who shaped the London press.

Born:

1812-12-15

Died:

1888-10-12

Century / Era:

1812s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Joseph Moses Levy (15 December 1812 – 12 October 1888) was a British newspaper editor and publisher. Levy was born in London on 15 December 1812 to Moses Levy and Helena Moses. He was educated at Bruce Castle School, after which he was sent to Germany to learn the printing trade. When he returned to England he established a printing company in Shoe Lane, Fleet Street.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Levy became involved in the newspaper industry; by 1855 he was chief proprietor of The Sunday Times. Colonel Arthur Sleigh founded the Daily Telegraph & Courier on 29 June 1855, and Levy agreed to print the newspaper. The venture was not a success and when Sleigh was unable to pay his printing bill, Levy took over the newspaper. In 1855, there were ten newspapers published in London. The Times, at sevenpence, was the most expensive and had a circulation of 10,000.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Its two main rivals, the Daily News and the Morning Post, both cost fivepence. Levy believed that if he could produce a cheaper newspaper than his main competitors, he could expand the size of the overall market. Levy decided that his son, Edward Levy-Lawson, and Thornton Leigh Hunt, should edit the newspaper. When he re-launched the newspaper...

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Frequently Asked Questions about Joseph Moses Levy