George Brinton McClellan Harvey
Encyclopedia
George Brinton McClellan Harvey (February 16, 1864 - August 20, 1928) was an American
diplomat, journalist, author, administrator for electric rail construction and owner and editor of several newspapers, all positions that brought him great wealth.
, he was educated at Peacham Academy. At the age of 18, he became a reporter on the Springfield (Massachusetts) Republican
and later on the New York World
. He was appointed by Governor
Green
of New Jersey
as aide-de-camp on his staff, and was reappointed by Governor Abbett
. The latter also made him insurance commissioner of New Jersey in 1890. During 1891-4, he was managing editor of the New York World.
Then for several years he was engaged in the construction of electric railways and in 1898 organized a syndicate which acquired the lines in Havana
, Cuba
. Having accumulated a great fortune, he purchased the North American Review
in 1899. In 1901 he also purchased Harper's Weekly
, which he edited until 1913. He was president of Harper and Company until 1915. In 1903, Harvey purchased the Metropolitan Magazine
. He was said to have been the first to suggest (in 1906) Woodrow Wilson
, then president of Princeton University
, as a presidential possibility. In the campaign of 1912 he gave Wilson strong support; but after the latter's nomination an estrangement developed, due, as it was generally understood, to the fact that Wilson intimated that his cause was being jeopardized by Harvey's officiousness.
In 1916 Harvey urged the election of Charles E. Hughes, the Republican candidate for president.
Despite retiring from Harper's Weekly as editor in 1913, he returned in 1918 to use it as a medium for attacking the policies of United States President Woodrow Wilson
, despite the two having previously been friends. In 1918, he established The North American Review's War Weekly, later called Harvey's Weekly, which bitterly denounced the Wilson administration. Following the election of Warren G. Harding
on March 4, 1921, Harvey became the United States ambassador to Great Britain
from 1921 until 1923.
From 1906 until 1908, he promoted Esperanto in the North American Review. In 1908 and 1909 he was president of Esperanto-Asocio de Norda Ameriko (Esperanto Association of North America). He was strongly opposed to the League of Nations on the ground that it involved the yielding of national sovereignty.
Harvey also published a number of works during his life, most notably Women in 1908 and Henry Clay Frick, the Man, a fictional story of an industrialist, art collector, and benefactor, in 1928. He died on August 20 of that year, in Dublin, New Hampshire
. Harvey was buried in Peacham Village Cemetery.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
diplomat, journalist, author, administrator for electric rail construction and owner and editor of several newspapers, all positions that brought him great wealth.
Biography
Born in Peacham, VermontPeacham, Vermont
Peacham is a town in Caledonia County, Vermont, United States. The population was 665 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 47.7 square miles , of which 46.7 square miles is land and 0.9 square mile is...
, he was educated at Peacham Academy. At the age of 18, he became a reporter on the Springfield (Massachusetts) Republican
Springfield Republican
The Republican is a newspaper based in Springfield, Massachusetts. It is owned by Newhouse Newspapers, a division of Advance Publications. It played important roles in the United States Republican Party's founding, Charles Dow's career, and the invention of the pronoun "Ms."-Beginning:Established...
and later on 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...
. He was appointed by Governor
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
Green
Robert Stockton Green
Robert Stockton Green was an American Democratic Party politician, who served as the 27th Governor of New Jersey from 1887–1890.-Biography:...
of New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
as aide-de-camp on his staff, and was reappointed by Governor Abbett
Leon Abbett
Leon Abbett was an American Democratic Party politician, and lawyer, who served two separate terms as the 26th Governor of New Jersey, from 1884 to 1887 and from 1890 to 1893. He was a member of the New Jersey General Assembly, New Jersey Senate, a democratic candidate for the U.S...
. The latter also made him insurance commissioner of New Jersey in 1890. During 1891-4, he was managing editor of the New York World.
Then for several years he was engaged in the construction of electric railways and in 1898 organized a syndicate which acquired the lines in Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. Having accumulated a great fortune, he purchased the North American Review
North American Review
The North American Review was the first literary magazine in the United States. Founded in Boston in 1815 by journalist Nathan Hale and others, it was published continuously until 1940, when publication was suspended due to J. H. Smyth, who had purchased the magazine, being unmasked as a Japanese...
in 1899. In 1901 he also purchased 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...
, which he edited until 1913. He was president of Harper and Company until 1915. In 1903, Harvey purchased the Metropolitan Magazine
Metropolitan Magazine
Metropolitan Magazine can refer to:*The Metropolitan Magazine, a London monthly published 1831–1850*Metropolitan Magazine...
. He was said to have been the first to suggest (in 1906) Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
, then president of 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....
, as a presidential possibility. In the campaign of 1912 he gave Wilson strong support; but after the latter's nomination an estrangement developed, due, as it was generally understood, to the fact that Wilson intimated that his cause was being jeopardized by Harvey's officiousness.
In 1916 Harvey urged the election of Charles E. Hughes, the Republican candidate for president.
Despite retiring from Harper's Weekly as editor in 1913, he returned in 1918 to use it as a medium for attacking the policies of United States President Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
, despite the two having previously been friends. In 1918, he established The North American Review's War Weekly, later called Harvey's Weekly, which bitterly denounced the Wilson administration. Following the election of Warren G. Harding
Warren G. Harding
Warren Gamaliel Harding was the 29th President of the United States . A Republican from Ohio, Harding was an influential self-made newspaper publisher. He served in the Ohio Senate , as the 28th Lieutenant Governor of Ohio and as a U.S. Senator...
on March 4, 1921, Harvey became the United States ambassador to Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
from 1921 until 1923.
From 1906 until 1908, he promoted Esperanto in the North American Review. In 1908 and 1909 he was president of Esperanto-Asocio de Norda Ameriko (Esperanto Association of North America). He was strongly opposed to the League of Nations on the ground that it involved the yielding of national sovereignty.
Harvey also published a number of works during his life, most notably Women in 1908 and Henry Clay Frick, the Man, a fictional story of an industrialist, art collector, and benefactor, in 1928. He died on August 20 of that year, in Dublin, New Hampshire
Dublin, New Hampshire
Dublin is a town in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,597 at the 2010 census. It is home to both the Dublin School and Yankee Magazine.-History:...
. Harvey was buried in Peacham Village Cemetery.