John Sherburne Sleeper

John Sherburne Sleeper (1794–1878) was an American sailor, ship master, novelist (who used the pseudonym of Hawser Martingale), journalist and politician.

Life at sea

Sleeper spent 22 years in the merchant marine service shipping out of the port of Boston as a sailor, officer and shipmaster.

Journalism career

Sleeper was the publisher and editor of the Exeter, New Hampshire, News-Letter, editor and proprietor of The Lowell Daily Journal and editor and part proprietor of The Boston Mercantile Journal. later The Boston Journal

Sleeper purchased The Lowell Daily Journal on May 15, 1833, and ran the paper in partnership with H. Hastings Weld, however the partnership lasted only a few months resulting in financial distress for Mr. Weld and Sleeper's moving on to work for The Boston Mercantile Journal. Sleeper was the editor of The Boston Mercantile Journal, later The Boston Journal from 1834 to 1854.

Public service career

Sleeper served as a member of the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention of 1853, the Massachusetts Senate, the Massachusetts House of Representatives and, from 1856 to 1858, as the sixth Mayor of Roxbury, Massachusetts.

Sleeper was a contestant for the third congressional district of Massachusetts for the election held on November 4, 1862. Although originally ahead in the vote totals, Alexander Rice was later declared the winner by 25 votes (5,045 to 5,020).

Sleeper was a member of the First Congregational Church in Roxbury, Massachusetts.

Books

A Whale Adventure in the Pacific (1841).

Tales of the Ocean (1842).

Salt Water Bubbles: Or, Life on the Wave (1854).