Andrew Marschalk

Who was Andrew Marschalk?

Andrew Marschalk was a New York-born printer, best known for championing the case of Ab-dul Rahman Ibrahima Ibn Sori, popularly known as the "Prince of Slaves".

Marschalk learned the printing trade while living in London in the 1780s. He brought a small mahogany press to America in 1790. Marschalk sold this printing press when he joined the United States Army. During his period in the Army he fought Native Americans in the Northwest Territory. After the fighting was over he became a lieutenant in the reserves.

In 1797 Marschalk regained possession of his press. With the printing press and thirty pounds of type he moved to the Mississippi Territory. His first ballad, deemed "The Gallery Slave," energized the small town of Natchez, Mississippi. Marschalk’s superior felt the printing business was beneath an Army soldier, so Marschalk was ordered to leave Natchez. It was not until 1802 when he was discharged from the army that he returned to Natchez. Marschalk then established “The Mississippi Gazette’, which was published for six years. Marschalk eventually moved to the nearby town of Washington, Miss., where he published "The Washington Republican."