William Gwynn (Maryland attorney)

William Gwynn
Portrait of Baltimore attorney William Gwynn (c. 1840)
Born	1775 Ireland
Died	August 14, 1854(1854-08-14) (aged 78–79) Harford County, Maryland, U.S.
Occupation	Lawyer · newspaper editor
Organizations	Hibernian Society of Baltimore (vice‑president, 1803)
Known for	Editor‑proprietor of the Federal Gazette and Baltimore Daily Advertiser

William Gwynn (1775 – August 14, 1854) was an Irish‑born American lawyer, newspaper editor, and civic leader based in Baltimore, Maryland.^[1] He owned and edited the Federal Gazette and Baltimore Daily Advertiser—often called the Baltimore Gazette—for more than two decades,^[2] co‑founded the Hibernian Society of Baltimore,^[3] and argued precedent‑setting transportation cases for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O). ^[4]

Gwynn was born in Ireland in 1775 to John Gwynn; the family emigrated to Baltimore during William’s childhood.^[1] He read law in Maryland and, at age 23, was appointed a tax commissioner for Baltimore County in 1798.^{[2] : 349–351} After admission to the bar he established a successful city practice.

In 1831 Gwynn joined Roger B. Taney, Reverdy Johnson, and John H. B. Latrobe in arguing the Baltimore and Ohio Rail Road Company case against the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company before the Maryland chancellor. ^[4] He later served as Baltimore City Counsellor (municipal attorney) from 1840 to 1841.^[5] Gwynn also used his newspaper, the Gazette, to champion civic improvements such as Baltimore’s early gas‑lighting system.^{[2] : 349–351}

Gwynn purchased the "Federal Gazette and Baltimore Daily Advertiser" in 1812 and remained editor-proprietor until 1834.^{[2] : 123–124, 654–656} He then sold the daily to his protégé William Gwynn Jones but reassumed control in 1835 after Jones was imprisoned for mail theft; the paper ceased publication on 30 December 1837.^{[2] : 665} Under Gwynn the Gazette advocated internal improvements, public works, and the arts, giving him broad regional influence.^[2]

A founding member and first vice‑president of the Hibernian Society of Baltimore (1803), Gwynn helped draft its 1816 constitution.^{[3] : 7–12} He led fundraising for projects such as the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C..^{[3] : 7–12} He also co‑founded the Baltimore Gas Light Company in 1816 and, served on the company’s first board of directors, helped draft its enabling ordinance, and promoted gas illumination in the city through editorial campaigns in the Gazette. ^{[2]: 528  [6]} and promoted regional transport through editorials and advocacy.^{[2] : 349–351}

In 1828, Gwynn was a founding director and first president of the Canton Company of Baltimore. This land‑development venture purchased the Harris Creek peninsula—today the Canton neighborhood to build deep‑water wharves and factory lots. He served on the company’s first board of directors, helped draft its enabling ordinance. ^[2]: 581

Gwynn never married but informally adopted William Gwynn Jones, who briefly succeeded him at the Gazette.^[1] His Greek‑Revival mansion, Tusculum, stood on Bank Lane behind Barnum’s Hotel and doubled as a meeting place for the literary Delphian Club, where Gwynn served as president in 1824–1825 ^[1] Tusculum was demolished in 1891.

Gwynn mentored several members of Edgar Allan Poe’s family: Poe’s father, David Poe Jr., read law in Gwynn’s office, and cousin Neilson Poe worked as an assistant editor at the Gazette. Gwynn also assisted Poe in publishing Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane, and Minor Poems (1829). ^[1] A portrait by H. G. McCann was presented to the Baltimore Bar Association in April 1863 and today hangs in the Baltimore City Circuit Court.^[5]

• The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad: Personal Recollections. A Lecture Delivered before the Maryland Institute, 1868 Hathi Trust, accessed August 2025.
• Memorial of William Gwynn, Baltimore Bar Association, Baltimore,1863, WorldCat.org, accessed August 2025.

• William Gwynn – Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore
• Maryland State Archives