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John Mycall (1750 – 1833) was a British-born American printer, state representative, coroner, and justice of the peace. Mycall was the first American printer to use three-color printing.

Early years in America
John Mycall came to America about 1767 **AAS, settling first in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After recovering from an illness, he moved to Amesbury, Massachusetts where he married Mary Hoyt on April 21, 1772. Mycall taught school in the West Parish **McCorison.

Newburyport printer and coroner
While living in Newburyport, Mycall was a newspaper printer, printer and bookseller, a one-term state representative, a selectman, and a county coroner.

The Essex Journal and New Hampshire Packet

John Mycall created his own type in his foundry. He collected printing type after he sold his printing business; Mycall gave a gift of type to the Reverend William Bentley and invited his friend, Isaiah Thomas to his Harvard home to see his latest purchase.

In 179*, he sold a printing press and some print stock to the Rev. Isaiah Parker MD in exchange for several of Parker's properties in Harvard, Massachusetts. The Mycalls moved to the village of Still River in Harvard, to a house known as the Cleverly Mansion.

Justice of the peace and impeachment proceedings
Starting in 180*, Mycall was involved in a series of civil trials and Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court appeals with a fellow Harvard resident, the Reverend Isaiah Parker MD.

On 26 May 1801, the Governor commissioned John Mycall as a Harvard-based justice of the peace and Mycall served Worcester County for a full seven-year term but not without controversy. In April 1804, charges were brought against Mycall for a misdemeanor. ** details ** decision led to U.S. Decision ....

Scientific pursuits
John Mycall's interest in science experimentation may have accounted for the printer's commission as an Essex County coroner. In May of 1785, John Mycall directed aeorostatic (likely hot air) balloon experiments in Newburyport from the area of State Street. He successfully raised a balloon several times and it crossed the Merrimack River, landing on the shore in Salisbury, Massachusetts. As hobbies, Mycall also experimented with electricity and galvanism. He proposed new ideas about negative electricity and believed that it had medical uses. Mycall was said to have "performed many remarkable cures, in cases where common remedies had failed."

Personal life
On 8 April 1804, John Mycall's wife Mary died. On 18 or 19 November 1804, Mycal and the widow Elisabeth (Parsons) Chandler filed their wedding intentions. Elisabeth was the widow of a Newburyport schoolmaster and she maintained the school when her first husband died.

Early organist in Newburyport ...

Publications
As a printer, Mycall's publications are numerous ** link ... ** In 1800, he presented a funeral address on the death of George Washington, which was printed at the request of the Still River Baptist Society. ** link ** Early American imprints. First series; no. 38023

Manuscripts
Mycall manuscripts can be found in the following collections:
 * 1780-1796 Benjamin Larkin Correspondence (Boston-based bookseller), American Antiquarian Society
 * Phillips Library, Peabody Essex Museum
 * Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives