Anthony Comstock | |
|---|---|
 From Anthony Comstock, Fighter (1913) by Charles Gallaudet Trumbull | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 7, 1844 New Canaan, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Died | September 21, 1915 (aged 71) Summit, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Margaret Hamilton[1] |
| Children | Lillie (died as infant); Adele (adopted)[1] |
| Occupation | United States Postal Inspector |
| Known for | Creation of the New York Society for the Suppression of Vice Comstock law |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  U.S. Army (Union Army) |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit | 17th Connecticut Infantry Regiment |
Anthony Comstock (March 7, 1844 – September 21, 1915) was an American anti-vice activist, United States Postal Inspector, and secretary of the New York Society for the Suppression of Vice (NYSSV), who was dedicated to upholding Christian morality. He opposed obscene literature, abortion, contraception, masturbation, gambling, prostitution, and patent medicine. The terms comstockery and comstockism refer to his extensive censorship campaign of materials that he considered obscene, including birth control advertised or sent by mail. He used his positions in the U.S. Postal Service and the NYSSV (in association with the New York police) to make numerous arrests for obscenity and gambling. Besides these pursuits, he was also involved in efforts to suppress fraudulent banking schemes, mail swindles, and medical quackery.[2]
- ^ a b Malladi, Lakshmeeramya (2017-05-23). "Anthony Comstock (1844–1915)". Embryo Project Encyclopedia. Arizona State University. School of Life Sciences. Center for Biology and Society. ISSN 1940-5030. Archived from the original on 2021-07-12. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
- ^ "Anthony Comstock | American social reformer | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2023-05-31.