Charles H. Taylor (publisher)
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General Charles Taylor redirects here, but may also refer to President Charles Taylor of Liberia.
Charles H. Taylor (1846 - 1921), also found as General Charles H. Taylor, was an American journalist and politician. He created the modern Boston Globe, acting as its publisher starting in 1873. Taylor was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives
in 1872 and served as private secretary to the Governor of Massachusetts.
Taylor was born 14 July 1846 in Charlestown, Massachusetts
to John Ingalls Taylor and Abigail Russell Hapgood. At the advent of the American Civil War
, Taylor enlisted in the Union Army at the age of 16 and was badly wounded at the Battle of Port Hudson. Taylor married Georgiana Olivia Davis in March of 1867, and the couple had 5 children. His commonly used military rank, General Taylor, was due to his service and rank in the Massachusetts state militia.
, who jointly invested $150,000. The first issue was published March 4, 1872 at the price of four cents. In August 1873, with the paper facing low circulation and financial difficulties, Jordan hired General Charles H. Taylor as temporary business manager. At the time Taylor was a 27-year old Civil War veteran, who had worked as a staff member and printer for the Boston Traveler, and as a stringer for The New York Tribune
. Taylor’s efforts ultimately created a profitable, large-circulation newspaper. He reduced the price to two cents and "laid down a strict rule that all news should be given impartially." His most important innovation, however, was adding stock quotations, women's pages, and sports coverage to the previous menu of political, national and foreign news, creating a prototype of a modern, family newspaper. Within three weeks of his advent as publisher, the circulation climbed from 8,000 to 30,000.
As a result of his success in stabilizing the business, and setting circulation on a successful growth path, Taylor and Jordan, the only remaining investor in the paper, became partners. Taylor was shortly named the newspaper's publisher. Members of the Taylor family served as publishers of The Boston Globe until 1999.
Charles H. Taylor (1846 - 1921), also found as General Charles H. Taylor, was an American journalist and politician. He created the modern Boston Globe, acting as its publisher starting in 1873. Taylor was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives
Massachusetts House of Representatives
The Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court, the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is composed of 160 members elected from single-member electoral districts across the Commonwealth. Representatives serve two-year terms...
in 1872 and served as private secretary to the Governor of Massachusetts.
Taylor was born 14 July 1846 in Charlestown, Massachusetts
Charlestown, Massachusetts
Charlestown is a neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, United States, and is located on a peninsula north of downtown Boston. Charlestown was originally a separate town and the first capital of the Massachusetts Bay Colony; it became a city in 1847 and was annexed by Boston on January 5, 1874...
to John Ingalls Taylor and Abigail Russell Hapgood. At the advent of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Taylor enlisted in the Union Army at the age of 16 and was badly wounded at the Battle of Port Hudson. Taylor married Georgiana Olivia Davis in March of 1867, and the couple had 5 children. His commonly used military rank, General Taylor, was due to his service and rank in the Massachusetts state militia.
The Boston Globe
Taylor joined the Boston Globe a year after it was founded in 1872. The newspaper was started by six Boston businessmen, led by merchant Eben Dyer JordanEben Dyer Jordan
Eben Dyer Jordan, Sr. was the co-founder of the department store chain Jordan Marsh with Benjamin L. Marsh in 1841.-Early life:...
, who jointly invested $150,000. The first issue was published March 4, 1872 at the price of four cents. In August 1873, with the paper facing low circulation and financial difficulties, Jordan hired General Charles H. Taylor as temporary business manager. At the time Taylor was a 27-year old Civil War veteran, who had worked as a staff member and printer for the Boston Traveler, and as a stringer for The New York Tribune
New York Tribune
The New York Tribune was an American newspaper, first established by Horace Greeley in 1841, which was long considered one of the leading newspapers in the United States...
. Taylor’s efforts ultimately created a profitable, large-circulation newspaper. He reduced the price to two cents and "laid down a strict rule that all news should be given impartially." His most important innovation, however, was adding stock quotations, women's pages, and sports coverage to the previous menu of political, national and foreign news, creating a prototype of a modern, family newspaper. Within three weeks of his advent as publisher, the circulation climbed from 8,000 to 30,000.
As a result of his success in stabilizing the business, and setting circulation on a successful growth path, Taylor and Jordan, the only remaining investor in the paper, became partners. Taylor was shortly named the newspaper's publisher. Members of the Taylor family served as publishers of The Boston Globe until 1999.