Thomas Willis White

Thomas Willis White (1788–1843) was an American printer and publisher who founded the Southern Literary Messenger. He was born in Williamsburg, Virginia. He became an apprentice at the ''Virginia Federalist'' at the age of eleven. Later he gained work as a composer in Norfolk, then moved to Philadelphia and Boston to learn the printing and publishing business. In 1834 he founded the Southern Literary Messenger in Richmond, Virginia, which became the most prominent literary periodical published in the south. Edgar Allan Poe wrote for the periodical as well as critiquing the work of others and editing the journal. Provided by Wikipedia