John Peter Zenger

 

The renowned champion of the freedom of the press spent his first days in America on Governors Island. AS a 13 year old boy he arrived in New York In 1710 with thousands of refugees from the Palatinate, who were quartered for a time on this island.  IN 1735, as publisher of the New York Weekly Journal, he won acquittal of libel charges in the historic court trial which marked the first major contribution to the cause of freedom of the press in America.

 

Erected by first United States Army, 14 October 1963