Legislator turned author shares story of Alexander Hanson and the Newspaper War of 1812

With a bitterly divided nation plunged into the War of 1812, a fiery young editor named Alexander Hanson risked his life to defend a newspaper that dared express unpopular anti-war views. His words provoked a bloodthirsty mob, a midnight jailbreak and a brutal massacre that crippled the city of Baltimore and stunned the nation.

Author Josh Cutler shines a light on the career of Hanson and this “Mobtown” Massacre –– a little-known episode in American history that helped shape the course of war and the nation’s promise of a free press.

Cutler will be the keynote presenter at the Howard County Historical Society Annual meeting. The event is Sunday, February 24 at the Miller Branch Library in Ellicott City. The society’s annual membership meeting will begin at 1pm and the lecture will begin at 2pm. Non-members are welcome to attend the lecture and discussion. There is no charge, but space is limited and pre-registration is requested.

Cutler is a former newspaper editor turned state legislator who represents the town of Hanson, Massachusetts, which is named after Alexander Hanson. Hanson spent the later years of his life at his family estate in Elkridge, MD, located in modern day Howard County.

Mobtown Massacre: Alexander Hanson and the Baltimore Newspaper War of 1812 is published by The History Press and includes a foreword by Dr. Edward Papenfuse, retired Maryland State Archivist. For more information visit mobtownmassacre.com. All proceeds from the sale of the book are being donated to local historical societies.

For more information on the Howard County Historical Society, including membership and event registration, please visit www.hchsmd.org, call 410-480-3250 or email info@hchsmd.org