William Brown Meloney (1878–1925)
Encyclopedia
William Brown Meloney was a journalist
, writer, executive secretary to Mayor William Jay Gaynor
of New York City and a historian of shipping
.
A native of San Francisco, California
, Meloney, whose grandfathers were a ship captain and a shipbuilder, ran away to sea at the age of eleven. When he was eighteen years old (1896) he became a shipping news and political reporter in San Francisco and also started writing fiction and verse and "resolved to do what he could to further the establishment of a powerful American merchant fleet." Meloney was the son of James Meloney of Boston, Massachusetts, and Addie Meloney. His father died in Somerville, Massachusetts
, in April 1898.
In 1899, Meloney, as a reporter for the San Francisco Bulletin, was assigned by editor Fremont Older
to investigate Police Lieutenant Frederick L. Esola, who was a candidate to be appointed as city police chief. Meloney testified before the city's police commission, and the evening after his testimony was finished, he and another Bulletin reporter were beaten by two men in a saloon
at 206 Sutter Street. Suspicions were raised that the beating was connected to the hearing, but nothing was proven.
Meloney moved to New York City
in 1901 and worked seven years for the New York World
newspaper, "part of the time as day city editor." In 1910 he was appointed executive secretary by newly elected Mayor Gaynor, after which he wrote several novels and plays but concentrated on a history of shipping, The Heritage of Tyre. When his book was published, Secretary of the Interior
Franklin K. Lane praised it as the "best thing ever written on shipping," and Theodore Roosevelt
wrote that Meloney "had the vision of one of America's great needs."
He served with the Army in France, where he was gassed during the Meuse-Argonne offensive
. After returning to the U.S. in 1919, he wrote a handbook for soldiers: Where Do We Go From Here? The War Department
published five million copies. He was an editorial writer on the New York Tribune
for six months and then worked for five years on a biography of John Purroy Mitchel
, mayor of New York from 1914 to 1917, which he completed months before he died in his country home in Pawling, New York, on December 7, 1925. The manuscript was never published but is on file in the Rare Books and Manuscript Collection of the Columbia University Library
.
Meloney also wrote about sea shanties
, in a work that was published first in Everybody's Magazine in 1914, then in book form as The Chanty Man Sings.
His widow, magazine editor and journalist Marie Mattingly Meloney
, and a son, also named William Brown Meloney
, survived him.
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, writer, executive secretary to Mayor William Jay Gaynor
William Jay Gaynor
William Jay Gaynor was an American politician from New York City, associated with the Tammany Hall political machine. He served as mayor of the City of New York from 1910 to 1913, as well as stints as a New York Supreme Court Justice from 1893 to 1909.-Early life:Gaynor was born in Oriskany, New...
of New York City and a historian of shipping
Shipping
Shipping has multiple meanings. It can be a physical process of transporting commodities and merchandise goods and cargo, by land, air, and sea. It also can describe the movement of objects by ship.Land or "ground" shipping can be by train or by truck...
.
A native of San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, Meloney, whose grandfathers were a ship captain and a shipbuilder, ran away to sea at the age of eleven. When he was eighteen years old (1896) he became a shipping news and political reporter in San Francisco and also started writing fiction and verse and "resolved to do what he could to further the establishment of a powerful American merchant fleet." Meloney was the son of James Meloney of Boston, Massachusetts, and Addie Meloney. His father died in Somerville, Massachusetts
Somerville, Massachusetts
Somerville is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, located just north of Boston. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 75,754 and was the most densely populated municipality in New England. It is also the 17th most densely populated incorporated place in...
, in April 1898.
In 1899, Meloney, as a reporter for the San Francisco Bulletin, was assigned by editor Fremont Older
Fremont Older
Fremont Older was a newspaperman and editor in San Francisco, California for nearly fifty years. He is best known for his campaigns against civic corruption and efforts on behalf of Tom Mooney and Warren Billings, wrongly convicted of the Preparedness Day bombing of 1916.Born in a log cabin in...
to investigate Police Lieutenant Frederick L. Esola, who was a candidate to be appointed as city police chief. Meloney testified before the city's police commission, and the evening after his testimony was finished, he and another Bulletin reporter were beaten by two men in a saloon
Bar (establishment)
A bar is a business establishment that serves alcoholic drinks — beer, wine, liquor, and cocktails — for consumption on the premises.Bars provide stools or chairs that are placed at tables or counters for their patrons. Some bars have entertainment on a stage, such as a live band, comedians, go-go...
at 206 Sutter Street. Suspicions were raised that the beating was connected to the hearing, but nothing was proven.
Meloney moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1901 and worked seven years for the New York World
New York World
The New York World was a newspaper published in New York City from 1860 until 1931. The paper played a major role in the history of American newspapers...
newspaper, "part of the time as day city editor." In 1910 he was appointed executive secretary by newly elected Mayor Gaynor, after which he wrote several novels and plays but concentrated on a history of shipping, The Heritage of Tyre. When his book was published, Secretary of the Interior
Secretary of the Interior
The Secretary of the Interior may refer to:* The United States Secretary of the Interior* The Secretario de Gobernación Secretary of the Interior...
Franklin K. Lane praised it as the "best thing ever written on shipping," and 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...
wrote that Meloney "had the vision of one of America's great needs."
He served with the Army in France, where he was gassed during the Meuse-Argonne offensive
Meuse-Argonne Offensive
The Meuse-Argonne Offensive, or Maas-Argonne Offensive, also called the Battle of the Argonne Forest, was a part of the final Allied offensive of World War I that stretched along the entire western front.-Overview:...
. After returning to the U.S. in 1919, he wrote a handbook for soldiers: Where Do We Go From Here? The War Department
United States Department of War
The United States Department of War, also called the War Department , was the United States Cabinet department originally responsible for the operation and maintenance of the United States Army...
published five million copies. He was an editorial writer on 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...
for six months and then worked for five years on a biography of John Purroy Mitchel
John Purroy Mitchel
John Purroy Mitchel was the mayor of New York from 1914 to 1917. At age 34 he was the second-youngest ever; he is sometimes referred to as "The Boy Mayor of New York." Mayor Mitchel is remembered for his short career as leader of Reform politics in New York, as well as for his early death as an...
, mayor of New York from 1914 to 1917, which he completed months before he died in his country home in Pawling, New York, on December 7, 1925. The manuscript was never published but is on file in the Rare Books and Manuscript Collection of the Columbia University Library
Rare Book & Manuscript Library
The Columbia University's Rare Book & Manuscript Library is located on the 6th Floor of Columbia University's Butler Library. The library holds the special collections of Columbia University, as well as the Columbia University Archives. The range of the library's holdings spans more than 4,000...
.
Meloney also wrote about sea shanties
Sea shanty
A shanty is a type of work song that was once commonly sung to accompany labor on board large merchant sailing vessels. Shanties became ubiquitous in the 19th century era of the wind-driven packet and clipper ships...
, in a work that was published first in Everybody's Magazine in 1914, then in book form as The Chanty Man Sings.
His widow, magazine editor and journalist Marie Mattingly Meloney
Marie Mattingly Meloney
Marie Mattingly Meloney , who used Mrs. William B. Meloney as her professional and social name, was "one of the leading woman journalists of the United States," a magazine editor and a socialite who in the 1920s organized a fund drive to buy radium for Marie Curie and began a movement for better...
, and a son, also named William Brown Meloney
William Brown Meloney (1905–1971)
William Brown Meloney was a journalist, novelist, short-story writer and theatrical producer.-Biography:The son of William Brown Meloney and Marie Mattingley Meloney , Meloney became a journalist, like his parents. In 1929 he had an affair with Priscilla Fansler Hobson, who became pregnant with...
, survived him.