Henry Jarvis Raymond American journalist and politician, founder of The New York Times Date of Birth: 24.01.1820 Country: USA

1. Biography of Henry Jarvis Raymond
2. Early Career
3. Political Involvement
4. Civil War and Later Years
5. Later Life and Legacy

Biography of Henry Jarvis Raymond

Henry Jarvis Raymond was an American journalist and politician who founded The New York Times. He was born in 1820 on a family farm near Lima, New York. He was the oldest child of Jarvis Raymond and his wife Lavinia Brockway. Henry showed exceptional intelligence and talent at an early age, learning to read at three and delivering his own speeches by the age of five. At twelve, he enrolled in Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, which later became Syracuse University.

Early Career

In 1840, Raymond graduated from the University of Vermont and began working in newspapers. Over the next decade, he served as a journalist for publications such as the New York Tribune, Courier, and Enquirer. In 1851, Raymond used $100,000 of his accumulated capital to establish his own publication, which would eventually become known worldwide as The New York Times. The first issue of the newspaper was released on September 18, marking the beginning of one of the most influential publications in the world. Henry Raymond served as the editor of the newspaper until his death.

Political Involvement

Throughout his life, Raymond remained actively involved in politics. He was a member of the New York State Assembly in 1850 and 1851, serving as its speaker in the latter year. Raymond played a prominent role in the formation of the Republican Party and participated in the preparation of the "Address to the People" for the Republican Convention held in Pittsburgh on February 22, 1856. In 1862, he served as the speaker of the New York State Assembly once again.

Civil War and Later Years

During the Civil War, Raymond generally supported President Abraham Lincoln's policies, although he opposed aggressive warfare. Prior to the war, Raymond had been critical of Lincoln, but the wartime circumstances dictated a different relationship between the government and the press. In 1865, he served as a delegate to the National Convention of the Republican Party and was appointed chairman of the party's National Committee. Raymond also served as a member of the House of Representatives from 1865 to 1867. His influence, like that of other editors and publishers of major newspapers, stemmed from the widespread readership and impact of his publications. As a journalist, Raymond was known for his thoughtfulness and cautious approach, occasionally being accused of excessive conservatism. However, his intention in establishing his own publication was to avoid political extremism.

Later Life and Legacy

In 1867, Raymond retired from public and political life to dedicate his time to his newspaper. He was a strong orator, and his most popular speech was his greeting to Hungarian leader Lajos Kossuth. Throughout his life, Henry Raymond wrote several books, including "A Life of Daniel Webster" (1853), "Political Lessons of the Revolution" (1854), "A History of the Administration of President Lincoln" (1864), and "The Life and Public Services of Abraham Lincoln" (1865).

In October 1843, Henry married Juliette Weaver, and they became the parents of seven children. Their children went on to achieve success in fields such as law, politics, journalism, and science.

Henry Jarvis Raymond passed away on June 18, 1869, in New York City. He was buried at the Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn.