This Week in History

November 7, 1837, defending the site of his anti-slavery newspaper, the St. Louis Observer, Elijah Parish Lovejoy was killed by a pro-slavery mob. His death strengthened the abolition cause.

Lovejoy was born in Albion, Maine, after college, he decided to head to the Midwest. His funds were low, so he walked to St. Louis, Missouri. Over time he became editor and part-owner of the St. Louis Times. I...