Zenger, John Peter (1697–1746)

American colonial printer and newspaper editor. In 1733 he founded the New York Weekly Journal through which he publicized his opposition to New York governor William Cosby. In 1734 he was arrested for seditious libel. Acquitted by a jury in 1735, he published A Brief Narrative of the Case and Trial of John Peter Zenger 1736 and remained a spokesperson for the principle of freedom of the press.

Born in Germany, Zenger emigrated to New York 1710 and was apprenticed to a printer. Establishing his own press 1726, Zenger became active in local political affairs.