Thomas Ritchie was born on 5 November 1778 in Tappahannock,
Essex County, Virginia, the son of Archibald and Mary (Roane)
Ritchie. He opened a bookstore in Richmond, Virginia in 1803.
On 9 May 1804, he co- founded the
Richmond Enquirer with W. W.
Worsley and became the sole editor and owner a year later.
From 1814-1834, 1835-1839, Ritchie served as the state printer
and in 1845 was elected congressional printer. At the behest
of President James K. Polk, he founded the
Washington Union in 1845.
Ritchie died in Washington, D.C. on 2 July 1854.
Jno. O. Lay ,
Congress Hall, Saratoga, to
Thos.
Ritchie , Esq.,
Enq[uire]r office, Richmond,
8 August 1835
4 p.,
ALS
Describing his meeting with Van Buren, in
which they discussed abolition.
N. M. Martin, Petersburg, to
Thos.
Ritchie , Esq., Richmond,
7 October 1843
2 p.,
ALS
Discussing the strength of the Republican
[Democratic] Party and the convention to nominate its
Presidential candidate.
J. T. Barbour, Catalpa, to
T. Ritchie ,
Esq.,
24 July 1845
4 p.,
ALS
Discussing Calhoun and his influence in
keeping the Republican [Democratic] Party intact, and
also, the Senate and party strength within
it.
E. W. Brown, Platte City, Missouri, to
[Thomas Ritchie],
Washington Union ,
Washington City, D. C.,
2 February 1847
4 p.,
ALS
Discussing his "plan for the navigation of the
atmosphere by means of the balloon," and desiring to
publish his plan so that someone might test
it.
J. T. Barbour, Catalpa, to
T. Ritchie ,
Esq.,
29 April 1847
4 p.,
ALS
John Marshall,
Mississippian office, to
Hon. Thomas Ritchie, Washington, D. C.,
9 May 1848
4 p.,
ALS
Taking exception to Ritchie's position
regarding slavery in California.
John K. Martin, Colemans Hotel, to
Thos.
Ritchie , Esq., Washington City, D. C.,
30 July 1848
4 p.,
ALS
Sending F. R. Blair's statement of his
position on Van Buren, Lewis Cass, and William O.
Butler.
John Marshall, New Orleans, to Hon. Thomas
Ritchie,
30 September 1848
4 p.,
ALS
John Marshall, Jackson, Mississippi, to Hon.
Thos.
Ritchie ,
29 June 1849
4 p.,
ALS
Praising Ritchie's management of the
Union [paper] and telling
of his own purchase of the
Mississippian
Samuel Treat, St. Louis, to Thomas Ritchie,
Esq., Washington, D. C.,
30 July 1849
4 p.,
ALS
Concerning a man to succeed Capt. Phillips as
editor of the
St. Louis Union, and also
discussing Benton's waning political power.
W[illia]m
Goodwin , Louisa Courthouse, to Mr. Thomas
Ritchie, former editor of the
R[ichmond] Enquirer, 26 May 1853
4 p.,
ALS
Requesting information on inquiry procedures
concerning the estates of Scottish nobility.
W[illiam]
L[earned] M[arcey] , [Secretary of War], to
Mr.
Tho.
Ritchie ,
ca.
1848-1849
1 p.,
ALS , with
enclosures
Returning two letters Ritchie had sent - (1)
John R. MacMurdo, Treasurer of U. S. Mint, New Orleans,
to John Marshall, Esq., concerning the New Orleans
Quartermaster's political views, 27 September 1848 (2
p., Ms. copy) and (2) Peter K. Magnus, editor of
New Orleans Courier, New
Orleans, to J. Marshall, Esq., concerning the New
Orleans Quartermaster's political conduct, 27 September
1848 (2 p., Ms. copy)
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