Journalist; born in
Hinsdale, N. H., Aug. 8, 1819; was for a time a student in Harvard College; joined the
Brook farm Association (q. v.) in 1842; and, after two years of editorial work in
Boston, became attached to the staff of the New York
Tribune in 1847.
In 1848 he went to
Europe as correspondent for several American newspapers, dealing particularly with the numerous foreign revolutions.
Soon after his return to New York he became managing editor of the
Tribune, and held the place till 1862, when he was appointed assistant
Secretary of War. In 1866 he organized the stock company which bought the old New York
Sun, of which he became
editor-in-chief, continuing so till his death.
In addition to his work as a journalist, in conjunction with the late
George Ripley, he planned and edited the
New American Cyclopaedia (16 vols., 1857-63), which they thoroughly revised and reissued under the title of the
American Cyclopaedia (1873-76). In 1883, in association with
Rossiter Johnson, he edited
Fifty perfect poems, and subsequently, in association with
Gen. James H. Wilson, he wrote the
Life of Ulysses S. Grant.
In 1897 his
Reminiscences of the Civil War and
Eastern journeys were published posthumously; he was also the compiler of
Household book of poetry.
He died on
Long Island, N. Y., Oct. 17, 1897.
