The Daily National Whig Archive

On April 7, 1847, Charles W. Fenton, former printer of the Columbian Fountain, published the first issue of the National Whig. The newspaper served Washington, D.C., the Navy Yard and the surrounding areas of Georgetown, Alexandria, and Baltimore. It changed its name to the Daily National Whig on August 9, 1847, and ceased publication for almost a year from January 9, 1848, until December 31, 1849. The newspaper featured a weekly and triweekly edition and remained in print until June 20, 1849.

From the onset, the National Whig professed strong support for Zachary Taylor for President of the United States, continually printing articles in support of him during its first year in print. It also promised to "attack at every assailable point, and ceaselessly, all the measures of the present administration of public affairs which shall be deemed to be adverse to the interests of the country, and [to] expose without fear or favor the corruptions of the party in power." After the suspension of publication due to intraparty factionalism, the newspaper resumed printing, enthusiastic as ever in in its support of Taylor.

On June 20, 1849, the Daily National Whig closed its doors. The closure was sudden, with other newspapers expressing surprise, especially because it sold subscriptions as late as June 19, 1849. After the Daily National Whig's abrupt end, Charles W. Fenton exited the printing business. He received an appointment to the position of Consul at Cowes, England, and eventually accepted the position of a clerk in the Third Auditor's Office in 1851.