Henry Watterson
Encyclopedia
Henry Watterson was a United States
journalist
who founded the Louisville Courier-Journal
.
He also served part of one term in the United States House of Representatives as a Democrat.
Born in Washington, D.C.
, the son of Harvey Magee Watterson
, a journalist and Congressman, Watterson became a newspaper reporter early in his life. He fought for the Confederate States of America
under General Nathan B. Forrest
during the American Civil War
, and edited a pro-Confederate newspaper, the Chattanooga Rebel.
After the war, Watterson edited newspapers in several states before settling down in Louisville, Kentucky
to edit the Louisville Journal. When that paper merged with the Louisville Courier in 1868, the Courier-Journal was formed. This paper soon gained national attention for its excellent reporting. He was a leader of the Liberal Republican movement in 1872. By 1876 he was a Democrat; his proposal for hundreds of thousands of Democrats to march on Washington to force the election of Tilden angered President Ulysses S. Grant
, who noted that nobody threatened Grant. Watterson was elected to fill the rest of Edward Y. Parsons
' term in the house when Parsons died in office.
Watterson was called "the last of the great personal journalists", writing colorful and controversial editorial
s on many topics under the pen name "Marse Henry". He won the Pulitzer Prize
in 1918 for two editorials supporting U.S. entry into World War I
, and he remained the editor until 1919, retiring after conflicts with Robert Worth Bingham
, who purchased the paper in 1918.
During his tenure as editor, Watterson was a Democratic representative in Congress from 1876 to 1877, and was a five-time delegate to the National Democratic Convention, where, in 1892, he received a smattering of votes for the vice presidential nomination. He became widely known as a lecturer and orator. His publications include History of the Spanish-American War (1899) and The Compromises of Life (1902).
The Interstate 264 beltway around Louisville was named after him.
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...
who founded the Louisville Courier-Journal
The Courier-Journal
The Courier-Journal, locally called "The C-J", is the main newspaper for the city of Louisville, Kentucky, USA. According to the 1999 Editor & Publisher International Yearbook, the paper is the 48th largest daily paper in the United States and the single largest in Kentucky.- Origins :The...
.
He also served part of one term in the United States House of Representatives as a Democrat.
Born in Washington, D.C.
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....
, the son of Harvey Magee Watterson
Harvey Magee Watterson
Harvey Magee Watterson was an American lawyer, newspaper editor, and politician. He was what his only child Henry later described as an "undoubting Democrat of the schools of Jefferson and Jackson", active in Tennessee politics at both the state and federal level.-Biography:He was born in Bedford...
, a journalist and Congressman, Watterson became a newspaper reporter early in his life. He fought for the Confederate States of America
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
under General Nathan B. Forrest
Nathan Bedford Forrest
Nathan Bedford Forrest was a lieutenant general in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. He is remembered both as a self-educated, innovative cavalry leader during the war and as a leading southern advocate in the postwar years...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, and edited a pro-Confederate newspaper, the Chattanooga Rebel.
After the war, Watterson edited newspapers in several states before settling down in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
to edit the Louisville Journal. When that paper merged with the Louisville Courier in 1868, the Courier-Journal was formed. This paper soon gained national attention for its excellent reporting. He was a leader of the Liberal Republican movement in 1872. By 1876 he was a Democrat; his proposal for hundreds of thousands of Democrats to march on Washington to force the election of Tilden angered President 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...
, who noted that nobody threatened Grant. Watterson was elected to fill the rest of Edward Y. Parsons
Edward Y. Parsons
Edward Young Parsons was a U.S. Representative from Kentucky.Born in Middletown, Kentucky, Parsons attended the public schools at Louisville, Kentucky until age 12. He studied one year in the St. Louis High School. He returned to Louisville and graduated from the municipal university in 1861,...
' term in the house when Parsons died in office.
Watterson was called "the last of the great personal journalists", writing colorful and controversial editorial
Editorial
An opinion piece is an article, published in a newspaper or magazine, that mainly reflects the author's opinion about the subject. Opinion pieces are featured in many periodicals.-Editorials:...
s on many topics under the pen name "Marse Henry". He won the Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
in 1918 for two editorials supporting U.S. entry into World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and he remained the editor until 1919, retiring after conflicts with Robert Worth Bingham
Robert Worth Bingham
Robert Worth Bingham was a politician, judge, newspaper publisher and United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom. He attended the University of North Carolina and University of Virginia but did not graduate. He moved to Louisville in the 1890s and received a law degree from the University of...
, who purchased the paper in 1918.
During his tenure as editor, Watterson was a Democratic representative in Congress from 1876 to 1877, and was a five-time delegate to the National Democratic Convention, where, in 1892, he received a smattering of votes for the vice presidential nomination. He became widely known as a lecturer and orator. His publications include History of the Spanish-American War (1899) and The Compromises of Life (1902).
The Interstate 264 beltway around Louisville was named after him.
Enduring quote
"Things have come to a hell of a pass, when a man can't whip his own jackass." (i.e. Democratic Party)External links
- Marse Henry: An Autobiography. Volume I. New York: George H. Doran Company, c1919.
- Marse Henry: An Autobiography. Volume II. New York: George H. Doran Company, c1919.