Founder of the New York
Herald; born in New Mill,
Scotland, Sept. 1, 1795; died in New York.
June 1, 1872.
Intending to enter upon the ministry in the
Roman Catholic Church, he studied theology in
Aberdeen some time, but, abandoning the intention, he went to
British America, arriving at
Halifax.
N. S., in 1819, where he taught school.
He made his way to
Boston, where he became a proof-reader, and in 1822 he went to New York, and thence to
Charleston, where he made translations from the
Spanish for the Charleston
Courier.
Returning to New York he became proprietor (1825) of the New York
Courier, but did not succeed.
After various editorial and journalistic adventures in New York and
Pennsylvania.
Mr. Bennett.
in May, 1835.
began the pubication of the New York
Herald.
His method was a “new departure” in journalism.
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The
Herald obtained an immense circulation and advertising patronage.
The profits of the establishment, at the time
of
Mr. Bennett's death, were estimated at from $5,000 to $700,000 a year.
He died in the
Roman Catholic faith, and bequeathed the
Herald to his only son.
James Gordon Bennett, Jr., who was born in New York City, May 10, 1841; fitted out the
Jeannette polar expedition; sent
Henry M. Stanley in search of
Dr. Livingstone in
Africa; constructed, with
John W. Mackay, a new cable between
America and
Europe; and greatly promoted international yachting.
