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Frederick Palmer (journalist)
Encyclopedia
Frederick Palmer was an American
journalist
and writer
.
Born in Pleasantville, Pennsylvania
, Palmer attended Allegheny College
in Meadville, Pennsylvania
.
The New York Press
hired Palmer in 1895 as its London
correspondent; and this opportunity evolved into a long career.
began when he was sent to cover the Greco-Turkish War
of 1897 for the New York World
and for Collier's Weekly
. He then covered the gold rush in northwestern Canada
. The Philippine–American War (1899–1902) provided an opportunity for him to cross the Pacific bound for Manila
.
In 1900, Palmer went to China
to cover the Boxer Rebellion (1900); and then he was sent to cover the Boer War
(1899–1902) in South Africa
.
Then the prospect of military conflict in Manchuria brought him back to China to cover the Russo-Japanese War
(1904–1905) for the New York Globe..
The New York Times sent Palmer to cover the Balkan War in 1912.
In 1914, Palmer was arrested in Mexico City
while covering the Tampico Affair
(1914) and the United States occupation of Veracruz for Everybody's Magazine
.
(AEF
). In this period, he was accorded the rank of Colonel. Palmer subsequently became the first war correspondent to win the U.S. Army's Distinguished Service Medal
.
Between World War I and World War II
, Palmer wrote thirty-one books, including Our Greatest Battle, based on his World War I experiences. In his books, he provided an analysis of the future impact of weapons and strategies he had seen, and soon after the end of World War I predicted that a second world war was on the horizon. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from Princeton University
in 1935.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
journalist
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...
and writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
.
Born in Pleasantville, Pennsylvania
Pleasantville, Pennsylvania
Pleasantville is the name of three places in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania:*Pleasantville, Bedford County, Pennsylvania*Pleasantville, Berks County, Pennsylvania*Pleasantville, Venango County, Pennsylvania...
, Palmer attended Allegheny College
Allegheny College
Allegheny College is a private liberal arts college located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the town of Meadville. Founded in 1815, the college has about 2,100 undergraduate students.-Early history:...
in Meadville, Pennsylvania
Meadville, Pennsylvania
Meadville is a city in and the county seat of Crawford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The city is generally considered part of the Pittsburgh Tri-State and is within 40 miles of Erie, Pennsylvania. It was the first permanent settlement in northwest Pennsylvania...
.
The New York Press
New York Press (historical)
The New York Press was a New York City newspaper that began publication in December, 1887 and continued publication until July 2, 1916, then being merged with Frank Munsey's New York Herald...
hired Palmer in 1895 as its London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
correspondent; and this opportunity evolved into a long career.
War correspondent
Palmer's fifty years as a war correspondentWar 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:...
began when he was sent to cover the Greco-Turkish War
Greco-Turkish War (1897)
The Greco-Turkish War of 1897, also called the Thirty Days' War and known as the Black '97 in Greece, was a war fought between the Kingdom of Greece and Ottoman Empire. Its immediate cause was the question over the status of the Ottoman province of Crete, whose Greek majority long desired union...
of 1897 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...
and for Collier's Weekly
Collier's Weekly
Collier's Weekly was an American magazine founded by Peter Fenelon Collier and published from 1888 to 1957. With the passage of decades, the title was shortened to Collier's....
. He then covered the gold rush in northwestern Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The Philippine–American War (1899–1902) provided an opportunity for him to cross the Pacific bound for Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
.
In 1900, Palmer went to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
to cover the Boxer Rebellion (1900); and then he was sent to cover the Boer War
Boer War
The Boer Wars were two wars fought between the British Empire and the two independent Boer republics, the Oranje Vrijstaat and the Republiek van Transvaal ....
(1899–1902) in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
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...
(1904–1905) for the New York Globe..
The New York Times sent Palmer to cover the Balkan War in 1912.
In 1914, Palmer was arrested in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
while covering the Tampico Affair
Tampico Affair
The Tampico Affair started off as a minor incident involving U.S. sailors and Mexican land forces loyal to General Victoriano Huerta during the guerra de las facciones phase of the Mexican Revolution...
(1914) and the United States occupation of Veracruz for Everybody's Magazine
Everybody's Magazine
Everybody's Magazine was an American magazine from 1899 to 1929.The magazine was founded by Philadelphia merchant John Wanamaker in 1899, though he had little role in its actual operations....
.
World War I
General John Pershing persuaded him to take on the task of press accreditation for the American Expeditionary ForceAmerican Expeditionary Force
The American Expeditionary Forces or AEF were the United States Armed Forces sent to Europe in World War I. During the United States campaigns in World War I the AEF fought in France alongside British and French allied forces in the last year of the war, against Imperial German forces...
(AEF
American Expeditionary Force
The American Expeditionary Forces or AEF were the United States Armed Forces sent to Europe in World War I. During the United States campaigns in World War I the AEF fought in France alongside British and French allied forces in the last year of the war, against Imperial German forces...
). In this period, he was accorded the rank of Colonel. Palmer subsequently became the first war correspondent to win the U.S. Army's Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Service Medal (United States)
The Distinguished Service Medal is the highest non-valorous military and civilian decoration of the United States military which is issued for exceptionally meritorious service to the government of the United States in either a senior government service position or as a senior officer of the United...
.
Between World War I and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Palmer wrote thirty-one books, including Our Greatest Battle, based on his World War I experiences. In his books, he provided an analysis of the future impact of weapons and strategies he had seen, and soon after the end of World War I predicted that a second world war was on the horizon. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
in 1935.
Partial lising of works
- 1897 -- Going to War in Greece
- 1901 -- The Ways of the Service
- 1904 -- With Kuroki in Manchuria
- 1906—Lucy Of The Stars—novel.
- 1910—The Big Fellow—novel.
- 1910—Danbury Rodd, Aviator—novel.
- 1910—The Vagabond—novel.
- 1912—Over the Pass—a Western novel.
- 1914—The Last Shot—a novel about a fictional major European war, from the point of view of a small set of soldiers and civilians. Written before the start of World War I.
- 1916 -- My Year of the War -- Palmer's account of his experiences as a journalist, starting the day World War I was declared.
- 1917 -- My Second Year of the War -- Palmer's account of his second year as a World War I war correspondent
- 1921—The Folly of Nations—Tracing the causes of wars in general.
- 1933—With My Own Eyes—autobiography.