Richard Harding Davis
Encyclopedia
Richard Harding Davis (April 18, 1864 – April 11, 1916) was a journalist and writer of fiction and drama, known foremost as the first American war correspondent to cover the Spanish-American War
, the Second Boer War
, and the First World War. His writing greatly assisted the political career of Theodore Roosevelt
and he also played a major role in the evolution of the American magazine. His influence extended to the world of fashion and he is credited with making the clean-shaven look popular among men at the turn of the 20th century.
was a prominent writer in her day. His father, Lemuel Clarke Davis, was himself a journalist and edited the Philadelphia Public Ledger. He attended the Episcopal Academy, and then later Lehigh University
and Johns Hopkins University
. While at Lehigh, he is credited with establishing the Lehigh Football team and the resulting Lehigh-Lafayette Football Rivalry. He was asked to leave both Lehigh University
and Johns Hopkins University
for neglecting his studies in favor of his social life.
His father found him his first position as a journalist at the Philadelphia Record but he was soon dismissed. After another brief position at the Philadelphia Press
, he accepted a better-paying position at the New York Evening Sun where he gained attention for his flamboyant style and his writing on controversial subjects such as abortion, suicide and execution. He first attracted attention in May to June 1889, by reporting on the devastation of Johnstown, Pennsylvania
, following the infamous flood
and added to his reputation by reporting on other noteworthy events such as the first electrocution of a criminal (the execution of William Kemmler
in 1890).
Davis became a managing editor of Harper's Weekly
, and was one of the world's leading war correspondent
s at the time of the Second Boer War
in South Africa. As an American, he had the unique opportunity to see the war first-hand from both the British and Boer
perspectives. Davis also worked as a reporter for the New York Herald
, The Times
, and Scribner's Magazine
.
He was popular among a number of leading writers of his time, and is considered the model for illustrator Charles Dana Gibson
's dashing Gibson man, the male equivalent of his famous Gibson Girl
. He is also mentioned early in Sinclair Lewis
's book Dodsworth
as the example of an exciting, adventure-seeking legitimate hero.
During the Spanish-American War
, Davis was on a United States Navy
warship when he witnessed the shelling of Matanzas, Cuba, a part of the Battle of Santiago de Cuba
. Davis' story made headlines, but as a result, the Navy prohibited reporters from being aboard any American naval vessel for the rest of the war.
Davis was a good friend of Theodore Roosevelt
, and he helped create the legend surrounding the Rough Riders
, for which he was made an honorary member. Some have even gone so far to accuse Davis of involvement in William Randolph Hearst
's alleged plot to have started the war between Spain and the United States in order to boost newspaper sales; however, Davis refused to work for Hearst after a dispute over fictionalizing one of his articles.
Despite his alleged association with Yellow journalism
, his writings of life and travel in Central America, the Caribbean
, Rhodesia
and South Africa during the Second Boer War
were widely published.
He was one of many war correspondents who covered the Russo-Japanese War
from the perspective of the Japanese forces.
Davis had success with his 1897 novel Soldiers of Fortune that he turned into a play and was later filmed twice, once in 1914 and in 1919 by Allan Dwan
.
Davis later reported on the Salonika Front of the First World War where he was arrested by the Germans as a spy but was released.
Davis was married twice, first to Cecil Clark, an artist, in 1899, and then to Bessie McCoy, an actress and Vaudeville
performer, who is remembered for her Yama Yama Man routine, in 1912. Davis and Bessie had a daughter, Hope.
He died of a heart attack.
Davis's Gallegher and Other Stories became the series Gallegher, starring Roger Mobley
, Edmond O'Brien
, and Harvey Korman
on Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color on NBC
.
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
, the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
, and the First World War. His writing greatly assisted the political career of Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
and he also played a major role in the evolution of the American magazine. His influence extended to the world of fashion and he is credited with making the clean-shaven look popular among men at the turn of the 20th century.
Biography
Davis was born on April 18, 1864 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His mother Rebecca Harding DavisRebecca Harding Davis
Rebecca Blaine Harding Davis was an American author and journalist. She is deemed a pioneer of literary realism in American literature. She graduated valedictorian from Washington Female Seminary in Pennsylvania...
was a prominent writer in her day. His father, Lemuel Clarke Davis, was himself a journalist and edited the Philadelphia Public Ledger. He attended the Episcopal Academy, and then later Lehigh University
Lehigh University
Lehigh University is a private, co-educational university located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of the United States. It was established in 1865 by Asa Packer as a four-year technical school, but has grown to include studies in a wide variety of disciplines...
and Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
. While at Lehigh, he is credited with establishing the Lehigh Football team and the resulting Lehigh-Lafayette Football Rivalry. He was asked to leave both Lehigh University
Lehigh University
Lehigh University is a private, co-educational university located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of the United States. It was established in 1865 by Asa Packer as a four-year technical school, but has grown to include studies in a wide variety of disciplines...
and Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
for neglecting his studies in favor of his social life.
His father found him his first position as a journalist at the Philadelphia Record but he was soon dismissed. After another brief position at the Philadelphia Press
Philadelphia Press
The Philadelphia Press is a defunct newspaper that was published from August 1, 1857 to October 1, 1920.The paper was founded by John W. Forney. Charles Emory Smith was editor and owned a stake in the paper from 1880 until his death in 1908...
, he accepted a better-paying position at the New York Evening Sun where he gained attention for his flamboyant style and his writing on controversial subjects such as abortion, suicide and execution. He first attracted attention in May to June 1889, by reporting on the devastation of Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Johnstown is a city in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States, west-southwest of Altoona, Pennsylvania and east of Pittsburgh. The population was 20,978 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Cambria County...
, following the infamous flood
Johnstown Flood
The Johnstown Flood occurred on May 31, 1889. It was the result of the catastrophic failure of the South Fork Dam situated upstream of the town of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, USA, made worse by several days of extremely heavy rainfall...
and added to his reputation by reporting on other noteworthy events such as the first electrocution of a criminal (the execution of William Kemmler
William Kemmler
William Francis Kemmler of Buffalo, New York, was a convicted murderer and the first person in the world to be executed using an electric chair.-Early life:...
in 1890).
Davis became a managing editor of Harper's Weekly
Harper's Weekly
Harper's Weekly was an American political magazine based in New York City. Published by Harper & Brothers from 1857 until 1916, it featured foreign and domestic news, fiction, essays on many subjects, and humor...
, and was one of the world's leading war correspondent
War correspondent
A war correspondent is a journalist who covers stories firsthand from a war zone. In the 19th century they were also called Special Correspondents.-Methods:...
s at the time of the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
in South Africa. As an American, he had the unique opportunity to see the war first-hand from both the British and Boer
Boer
Boer is the Dutch and Afrikaans word for farmer, which came to denote the descendants of the Dutch-speaking settlers of the eastern Cape frontier in Southern Africa during the 18th century, as well as those who left the Cape Colony during the 19th century to settle in the Orange Free State,...
perspectives. Davis also worked as a reporter for the New York Herald
New York Herald
The New York Herald was a large distribution newspaper based in New York City that existed between May 6, 1835, and 1924.-History:The first issue of the paper was published by James Gordon Bennett, Sr., on May 6, 1835. By 1845 it was the most popular and profitable daily newspaper in the UnitedStates...
, The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
, and Scribner's Magazine
Scribner's Magazine
Scribner's Magazine was an American periodical published by the publishing house of Charles Scribner's Sons from January 1887 to May 1939. Scribner's Magazine was the second magazine out of the "Scribner's" firm, after the publication of Scribner's Monthly...
.
He was popular among a number of leading writers of his time, and is considered the model for illustrator Charles Dana Gibson
Charles Dana Gibson
Charles Dana Gibson was an American graphic artist, best known for his creation of the Gibson Girl, an iconic representation of the beautiful and independent American woman at the turn of the 20th century....
's dashing Gibson man, the male equivalent of his famous Gibson Girl
Gibson Girl
The Gibson Girl was the personification of a feminine ideal as portrayed in the satirical pen-and-ink-illustrated stories created by illustrator Charles Dana Gibson during a 20-year period spanning the late nineteenth and early twentieth century in the United States.Some people argue that the...
. He is also mentioned early in Sinclair Lewis
Sinclair Lewis
Harry Sinclair Lewis was an American novelist, short-story writer, and playwright. In 1930, he became the first writer from the United States to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, "for his vigorous and graphic art of description and his ability to create, with wit and humor, new types of...
's book Dodsworth
Dodsworth
Dodsworth is a satirical novel by American writer Sinclair Lewis first published by Harcourt Brace & Company in March 1929. Its subject, the differences between US and European intellect, manners, and morals, is one that frequently appears in the works of Henry James.-Plot summary:Samual 'Sam'...
as the example of an exciting, adventure-seeking legitimate hero.
During the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
, Davis was on a United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
warship when he witnessed the shelling of Matanzas, Cuba, a part of the Battle of Santiago de Cuba
Battle of Santiago de Cuba
The Battle of Santiago de Cuba, fought between Spain and the United States on 3 July 1898, was the largest naval engagement of the Spanish-American War and resulted in the destruction of the Spanish Navy's Caribbean Squadron.-Spanish Fleet:...
. Davis' story made headlines, but as a result, the Navy prohibited reporters from being aboard any American naval vessel for the rest of the war.
Davis was a good friend of Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
, and he helped create the legend surrounding the Rough Riders
Rough Riders
The Rough Riders is the name bestowed on the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry, one of three such regiments raised in 1898 for the Spanish-American War and the only one of the three to see action. The United States Army was weakened and left with little manpower after the American Civil War...
, for which he was made an honorary member. Some have even gone so far to accuse Davis of involvement in William Randolph Hearst
William Randolph Hearst
William Randolph Hearst was an American business magnate and leading newspaper publisher. Hearst entered the publishing business in 1887, after taking control of The San Francisco Examiner from his father...
's alleged plot to have started the war between Spain and the United States in order to boost newspaper sales; however, Davis refused to work for Hearst after a dispute over fictionalizing one of his articles.
Despite his alleged association with Yellow journalism
Yellow journalism
Yellow journalism or the yellow press is a type of journalism that presents little or no legitimate well-researched news and instead uses eye-catching headlines to sell more newspapers. Techniques may include exaggerations of news events, scandal-mongering, or sensationalism...
, his writings of life and travel in Central America, the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
, Rhodesia
Rhodesia
Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
and South Africa during the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
were widely published.
He was one of many war correspondents who covered the Russo-Japanese War
Russo-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War was "the first great war of the 20th century." It grew out of rival imperial ambitions of the Russian Empire and Japanese Empire over Manchuria and Korea...
from the perspective of the Japanese forces.
Davis had success with his 1897 novel Soldiers of Fortune that he turned into a play and was later filmed twice, once in 1914 and in 1919 by Allan Dwan
Allan Dwan
Allan Dwan was a pioneering Canadian-born American motion picture director, producer and screenwriter.-Early life:...
.
Davis later reported on the Salonika Front of the First World War where he was arrested by the Germans as a spy but was released.
Davis was married twice, first to Cecil Clark, an artist, in 1899, and then to Bessie McCoy, an actress and Vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
performer, who is remembered for her Yama Yama Man routine, in 1912. Davis and Bessie had a daughter, Hope.
He died of a heart attack.
Legacy
A plaque denoting his boyhood home can be seen at 21st and Chancellor Streets in Philadelphia.Davis's Gallegher and Other Stories became the series Gallegher, starring Roger Mobley
Roger Mobley
Roger L. Mobley in Evansville, Indiana, is a former child actor in film and television, working primarily for Walt Disney Productions during the late 1950s and early 1960s...
, Edmond O'Brien
Edmond O'Brien
Edmond O'Brien was an American actor who is perhaps best remembered for his role in D.O.A. and his Oscar winning role in The Barefoot Contessa...
, and Harvey Korman
Harvey Korman
Harvey Herschel Korman was an American comedic actor who performed in television and movie productions beginning in 1960...
on Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
.
Partial list of works
- Stories for Boys (1891)
- Cinderella and Other Stories (1891)
- The West from a Car Window (1892) from Archive.org
- Van Bibber and Others (1892)
- The Rulers of the Mediterranean (1893) from Archive.org
- The Exiles, and Other Stories (1894)
- Our English Cousins (1894)
- About Paris (1895)
- The Princess Aline (1895)
- Three Gringos in Central America and Venezuela (1896) online with googlebooks – Also available in audio:
- Dr. Jameson's Raiders vs. the Johannesburg Reformers (1897)
- A Year From a Reporter's Note-Book (1898) from Archive.org
- The King's Jackal (1898)
- The Cuban & Porto Rican Campaigns (1899)
- With Both Armies (1900) – Davis on the Second Boer WarSecond Boer WarThe Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
- Soldiers of Fortune (1902)
- Captain Macklin: His Memoirs (1902)
- The Bar Sinister (1903) – an early biography of Winston ChurchillWinston ChurchillSir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
(1874–1965), Major Frederick Russell BurnhamFrederick Russell BurnhamFrederick Russell Burnham, DSO was an American scout and world traveling adventurer known for his service to the British Army in colonial Africa and for teaching woodcraft to Robert Baden-Powell, thus becoming one of the inspirations for the founding of the international Scouting Movement.Burnham...
, D.S.O.Distinguished Service OrderThe Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, (1861–1947), Chief of Scouts, General Henry Douglas McIver (1841–1907), James Harden-HickeyJames Harden-HickeyJames Harden-Hickey was a Franco-American author, newspaper editor, duellist, adventurer and self-proclaimed Prince.-Early life:James Aloysius Harden was born in San Francisco, California on December 8, 1854...
(1854–1898), Captain Philo McGiffenPhilo McGiffenPhilo Norton McGiffin was a late 19th century American naval officer later serving in Chinese service as a naval advisor during the First Sino-Japanese War...
(1860–1897), William Walker (1824–1860) - The Congo and coasts of Africa (1907)
- The Scarlet Car (1906)
- Vera, the Medium (1908) – first edition published by Scribners
- The White Mice (1909)
- Once Upon A Time (1910)
- The Boy Scout (1914)
- With the Allies (1914)
- With the French in France and Salonika (1916)
- The Man Who Could Not Lose (1916)
External links
- Adventures and Letters of Richard Harding Davis from Project Gutenberg
- Appreciations of Richard Harding Davis from Project Gutenberg
- "Not likely sent: The Remington-Hearst 'telegrams'".
- Free book downloads in HTML, PDF, text formats at ebooktakeaway.com