Anthony Comstock

Anthony Comstock, born on March seventh, eighteen forty-four, was a prominent American political writer and anti-vice activist. He dedicated his life to upholding what he believed to be Christian morality, taking a strong stance against various societal issues such as obscene literature, abortion, contraception, masturbation, gambling, prostitution, and patent medicine.

As a United States Postal Inspector and secretary of the New York Society for the Suppression of Vice, Comstock wielded significant influence in his efforts to censor materials he deemed obscene. His campaigns against birth control advertisements and other forms of perceived immorality led to the coining of terms like comstockery and comstockism, which reflect his extensive censorship initiatives.

Utilizing his positions within the U.S. Postal Service and the NYSSV, Comstock collaborated closely with the New York police to make numerous arrests related to obscenity and gambling. His commitment to moral reform extended beyond these issues, as he also worked diligently to combat fraudulent banking schemes, mail swindles, and medical quackery.