Henry Muddiman

Henry Muddiman (baptized Feb. 5, 1629, St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields, London, Eng.—died March 7, 1692, Coldhern, near Earl’s Court, London) was an English journalist who supported the Royalist cause during the Civil Wars and became a privileged publisher of newsletters after the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660.

Muddiman issued the Parliamentary Intelligencer and Mercurius Publicus (Public Mercury), advocating a free parliament, and received support from General George Monck, a key figure in the royal Restoration. With this backing Muddiman was able to supplant Marchamont Needham, the anti-Royalist journalist who had played a similar role for Oliver Cromwell, and he went on to write many official documents. Along with Sir Joseph Williamson, publisher of the London Gazette, Muddiman for several years had a virtual monopoly on news publishing under King Charles II.

Muddiman’s monopoly was threatened in 1663 when Sir Roger L’Estrange was named surveyor, or censor, for the crown. L’Estrange had the right to publish the official news and all bills. Muddiman and Williamson nonetheless remained the principal publishers of newsletters until 1675, when the government tried to suppress all news publications. The effort failed, partly because of the public demand for news. Eventually Muddiman worked for L’Estrange while remaining attached to the office of the secretary of state. He continued to publish manuscript newsletters that were designed mainly to appeal to the upper classes.