John Bradford

John Bradford 1749-1830, pioneer printer of Kentucky, b. Virginia. He moved to Kentucky c.1779. Although he had no previous practical experience, he issued at Lexington on Aug. 11, 1787, the first number of the Kentucky Gazette, the first newspaper in the territory, and succeeded, despite many handicaps, in making it a creditable sheet. In 1788 he printed the Kentucke Almanac, the first pamphlet in the W United States. In 1792, Bradford published the acts of the initial session of the Kentucky legislature, the first book to be published in Kentucky. He aided in founding Transylvania Univ. and was the first chairman of the board (1799-1811). In 1826 he began to publish in the Gazette his "Notes of Kentucky," a valuable historical source, which continued until 1829.

Bradford, John (c.1510–55), Protestant martyr. He was ordained deacon in 1550 by N. Ridley, who made him his chaplain. Soon after Mary's accession he was imprisoned on a charge of sedition. He defended the doctrine of predestination against the Freewillers among his fellow-prisoners before he was burnt at Smithfield.

Bradford, John (1749–1830), pioneer printer of Kentucky, in 1787 first issued his Kentucke Gazette, the earliest newspaper in the territory, in which he published his Notes of Kentucky (1826–29), an important historical source. He printed the first pamphlet in the territory, the Kentucke Almanac (1788).