William Conant Church
Encyclopedia
William Conant Church was an American
journalist and soldier.
Church was born in Rochester, New York
, and educated in the Boston Latin School
. While still a youth, he helped his father edit and publish the New York Chronicle.
In 1860, he became publisher of the New York Sun, and in 1861–62 was Washington
correspondent of the New York Times.
He resigned his journalistic position on his appointment as captain in the United States Volunteers
in 1862, and served for one year, receiving brevet
s of major
and lieutenant colonel
.
In 1863, he and his brother, Francis Pharcellus Church
, established The Army and Navy Journal
, and in 1866, they founded the Galaxy Magazine.
He and George Wood Wingate
established the National Rifle Association
in 1871, and in 1872 he replaced its first president, the retired general Ambrose Burnside
.
Church was government commissioner to inspect the Northern Pacific Railroad
in 1882.
He wrote two biographies, of John Ericsson
in 1891, and Ulysses S. Grant
in 1899.
Church was also one of the founders of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
, an original member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion, and became a life member and director of the New York Zoological Society.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
journalist and soldier.
Church was born in Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
, and educated in the Boston Latin School
Boston Latin School
The Boston Latin School is a public exam school founded on April 23, 1635, in Boston, Massachusetts. It is both the first public school and oldest existing school in the United States....
. While still a youth, he helped his father edit and publish the New York Chronicle.
In 1860, he became publisher of the New York Sun, and in 1861–62 was Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
correspondent of the New York Times.
He resigned his journalistic position on his appointment as captain in the United States Volunteers
United States Volunteers
United States Volunteers also known as U.S. Volunteers, U. S. Vol., or U.S.V.Starting as early as 1861 these regiments were often referred to as the "volunteer army" of the United States but not officially named that until 1898.During the nineteenth century this was the United States federal...
in 1862, and served for one year, receiving brevet
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
s of major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
and lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
.
In 1863, he and his brother, Francis Pharcellus Church
Francis Pharcellus Church
Francis Pharcellus Church was an American publisher and editor. He was a member of the Century Association.-Biography:...
, established The Army and Navy Journal
Armed Forces Journal
Armed Forces Journal is a monthly journal for American military officers and leaders in government and industry.Founded in 1863 as a weekly newspaper, AFJ is published today by Gannett Government Media, part of Gannett Company ....
, and in 1866, they founded the Galaxy Magazine.
He and George Wood Wingate
George Wood Wingate
George Wood Wingate was an American lawyer and organizer of rifle practice. During the Civil War he served in a New York regiment, and later supervised the construction of elevated railways in Brooklyn. In 1867 Wingate drew up rules for systematic rifle practice by Company A, 22d regiment, New...
established the National Rifle Association
National Rifle Association
The National Rifle Association of America is an American non-profit 501 civil rights organization which advocates for the protection of the Second Amendment of the United States Bill of Rights and the promotion of firearm ownership rights as well as marksmanship, firearm safety, and the protection...
in 1871, and in 1872 he replaced its first president, the retired general Ambrose Burnside
Ambrose Burnside
Ambrose Everett Burnside was an American soldier, railroad executive, inventor, industrialist, and politician from Rhode Island, serving as governor and a U.S. Senator...
.
Church was government commissioner to inspect the Northern Pacific Railroad
Northern Pacific Railway
The Northern Pacific Railway was a railway that operated in the west along the Canadian border of the United States. Construction began in 1870 and the main line opened all the way from the Great Lakes to the Pacific when former president Ulysses S. Grant drove in the final "golden spike" in...
in 1882.
He wrote two biographies, of John Ericsson
John Ericsson
John Ericsson was a Swedish-American inventor and mechanical engineer, as was his brother Nils Ericson. He was born at Långbanshyttan in Värmland, Sweden, but primarily came to be active in England and the United States...
in 1891, and Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
in 1899.
Church was also one of the founders of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a renowned art museum in New York City. Its permanent collection contains more than two million works, divided into nineteen curatorial departments. The main building, located on the eastern edge of Central Park along Manhattan's Museum Mile, is one of the...
, an original member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion, and became a life member and director of the New York Zoological Society.
External links
- William Conant Church papers, 1863-1909, bulk (1863-1878), at the New York Public LibraryNew York Public LibraryThe New York Public Library is the largest public library in North America and is one of the United States' most significant research libraries...