Daye, Stephen

Daye, Stephen, c.1594–1668, British settler in North America, considered by many to be the first printer in the English American colonies. He came to Massachusetts Bay with his family in 1638 under contract to the Rev. Jose Glover, who brought along a printing press. Glover died on the voyage and his widow helped the Dayes set up his press. Daye apparently supervised its establishment and it became the Cambridge Press, the first printing plant in the colonies. From it was issued The Freeman's Oath, a broadside published in 1639. It was followed by an almanac and by the Bay Psalm Book (1640), the first book printed in the colonies. Stephen Daye was not a printer, but a locksmith, whereas his son, Matthew Daye, was a trained printer. Matthew may have done the actual printing for the company.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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