Parke Godwin (journalist)
Encyclopedia
Parke Godwin was an American journalist associated with New York.
. His father was an officer in the war of 1812
, and his grandfather a soldier of the American Revolution. He graduated from Princeton University
in 1834, studied law, and was admitted to the bar of Kentucky
, but did not practice. He married the eldest daughter of William Cullen Bryant
, and moved to New York City
in 1837.
He became interested in journalism and by 1830s was writing for the Evening Post and The United States Magazine and Democratic Review
under John L. O'Sullivan
. The reforms he advocated in the Democratic Review were subsequently introduced into the constitution and code of New York
. Except for one year, he was connected with the Evening Post from 1837 to 1853. In 1842 or 1843 he ran a weekly called Pathfinder, but it only lasted three months.
He was deputy collector in the New York Custom House
under President Polk, an early member of the Republican Party
, and a consistent advocate of free trade
. He supported the Republicans with speeches and writing.
He became a supporter of Fourierism and wrote a book which became an authority on the movement. However, in 1845, he was critical of the work of Albert Brisbane
and his view of Associationism
, though he still contributed to the new incarnation of Brisbane's journal The Phalanx
printed at Brook Farm
in Massachusetts. Godwin saw these sorts of communities as embracing the democratic
ideals and equal rights. Further, he believed there was a connection between democracy and religion; as he said "Christianity
and Democracy are one." In May 1846, Godwin was elected Foreign Corresponding Secretary of the New England Fourier Society.
In 1850, Godwin and his family allowed Catharine Forrest to stay with them during the public scandal that erupted surrounding her divorce from actor Edwin Forrest
. Also in the 1850s, Godwin became an ardent abolitionist
and felt that slavery diluted the American concept. In 1855, he asked: "What is America, and who are Americans? ...The real American gives his mind and heart to the grand constituent ideas of the republic... no matter whether his corporeal chemistry was first ignited in Kamschatka
or the moon". Godwin was against slavery, but ridiculed the New England reform movements for not attempting to impact the rest of the country. He said, "If the Deity should consult New England about making a new world, they would advise that it should be made the size of Massachusetts, have no city but Boston and insist in making an occasional donation to a charitable institution and uttering shallow anti-slavery sentiments."
Godwin became an associate editor of Putnam's Magazine
with George William Curtis
under managing editor Charles Frederick Briggs
; the three also collaborated on a gift book
called The Homes of American Authors (1852). Godwin expressed his antislavery sentiments in Putnam's and criticized then-president Franklin Pierce
; backlash from Democrats hurt the circulation of the magazine, especially after November 1854, when Godwin published his essay "American Despotisms". In 1857, he and fellow editor Curtis supported Frederick Law Olmsted
as designer of Central Park
.
In 1865, Godwin returned to the Evening Post. He became sole editor of Putnam's from January 1868 to November 1870. Later, he edited the posthumous works of William Cullen Bryant
as Poetical Works (1883) and Complete Prose Writings (1884) as well as A Biography of William Cullen Bryant, with Extracts from his private Correspondence (1883).
Godwin died of an illness at 5:30 a.m. on January 7, 1904, at his New York home, surrounded by several of his daughters.
He made translations from the prose of Goethe, Fouqué
, and Zschokke.
Biography
Godwin was born on February 28, 1816, in Paterson, New JerseyPaterson, New Jersey
Paterson is a city serving as the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 146,199, rendering it New Jersey's third largest city and one of the largest cities in the New York City Metropolitan Area, despite a decrease of 3,023...
. His father was an officer in the war of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, and his grandfather a soldier of the American Revolution. He graduated 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 1834, studied law, and was admitted to the bar of Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, but did not practice. He married the eldest daughter of William Cullen Bryant
William Cullen Bryant
William Cullen Bryant was an American romantic poet, journalist, and long-time editor of the New York Evening Post.-Youth and education:...
, and 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 1837.
He became interested in journalism and by 1830s was writing for the Evening Post and The United States Magazine and Democratic Review
The United States Magazine and Democratic Review
The United States Magazine and Democratic Review was a periodical published from 1837–1859 by John L. O'Sullivan. Its motto, "The best government is that which governs least," was famously paraphrased by Henry David Thoreau in On the Duty of Civil Disobedience.-History:In 1837, O'Sullivan...
under John L. O'Sullivan
John L. O'Sullivan
John Louis O'Sullivan was an American columnist and editor who used the term "Manifest Destiny" in 1845 to promote the annexation of Texas and the Oregon Country to the United States. O'Sullivan was an influential political writer and advocate for the Democratic Party at that time, but he faded...
. The reforms he advocated in the Democratic Review were subsequently introduced into the constitution and code of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Except for one year, he was connected with the Evening Post from 1837 to 1853. In 1842 or 1843 he ran a weekly called Pathfinder, but it only lasted three months.
He was deputy collector in the New York Custom House
New York Custom House
The New York Custom House was the place where federal customs duties were collected in New York City.Until the civil service reforms of the late nineteenth century, all Custom House employees were political appointees. The President appointed the four principal officers: Collector of Customs, Naval...
under President Polk, an early member of the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, and a consistent advocate of free trade
Free trade
Under a free trade policy, prices emerge from supply and demand, and are the sole determinant of resource allocation. 'Free' trade differs from other forms of trade policy where the allocation of goods and services among trading countries are determined by price strategies that may differ from...
. He supported the Republicans with speeches and writing.
He became a supporter of Fourierism and wrote a book which became an authority on the movement. However, in 1845, he was critical of the work of Albert Brisbane
Albert Brisbane
Albert Brisbane was an American utopian socialist, the chief popularizer of the theories of Charles Fourier in the United States in several books, notably Social Destiny of Man , and in his Fourierist journal The Phalanx...
and his view of Associationism
Associationism
Associationism in philosophy refers to the idea that mental processes operate by the association of one state with its successor states.The idea is first recorded in Plato and Aristotle, especially with regard to the succession of memories....
, though he still contributed to the new incarnation of Brisbane's journal The Phalanx
The Phalanx
The Phalanx; or Journal of Social Science is a Fourierist journal published in New York City, edited by Albert Brisbane and Osborne Macdaniel from 1843 to 1845....
printed at Brook Farm
Brook Farm
Brook Farm, also called the Brook Farm Institute of Agriculture and Education or the Brook Farm Association for Industry and Education, was a utopian experiment in communal living in the United States in the 1840s...
in Massachusetts. Godwin saw these sorts of communities as embracing the democratic
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
ideals and equal rights. Further, he believed there was a connection between democracy and religion; as he said "Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
and Democracy are one." In May 1846, Godwin was elected Foreign Corresponding Secretary of the New England Fourier Society.
In 1850, Godwin and his family allowed Catharine Forrest to stay with them during the public scandal that erupted surrounding her divorce from actor Edwin Forrest
Edwin Forrest
Edwin Forrest was an American actor.-Early life:Forrest was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, of Scottish and German descent. His father died and he was brought up by his mother, a German woman of humble origins. He was educated at the common schools in Philadelphia, and early evinced a taste...
. Also in the 1850s, Godwin became an ardent abolitionist
Abolitionism
Abolitionism is a movement to end slavery.In western Europe and the Americas abolitionism was a movement to end the slave trade and set slaves free. At the behest of Dominican priest Bartolomé de las Casas who was shocked at the treatment of natives in the New World, Spain enacted the first...
and felt that slavery diluted the American concept. In 1855, he asked: "What is America, and who are Americans? ...The real American gives his mind and heart to the grand constituent ideas of the republic... no matter whether his corporeal chemistry was first ignited in Kamschatka
Kamchatka Peninsula
The Kamchatka Peninsula is a peninsula in the Russian Far East, with an area of . It lies between the Pacific Ocean to the east and the Sea of Okhotsk to the west...
or the moon". Godwin was against slavery, but ridiculed the New England reform movements for not attempting to impact the rest of the country. He said, "If the Deity should consult New England about making a new world, they would advise that it should be made the size of Massachusetts, have no city but Boston and insist in making an occasional donation to a charitable institution and uttering shallow anti-slavery sentiments."
Godwin became an associate editor of Putnam's Magazine
Putnam's Magazine
Putnam’s Monthly Magazine of American Literature, Science and Art was a monthly periodical published by G. P. Putnam's Sons featuring American literature and articles on science, art, and politics...
with George William Curtis
George William Curtis
George William Curtis was an American writer and public speaker, born in Providence, Rhode Island, of old New England stock.-Biography:...
under managing editor Charles Frederick Briggs
Charles Frederick Briggs
Charles Frederick Briggs , also called C. F. Briggs, was an American journalist, author and editor, born in Nantucket, Massachusetts...
; the three also collaborated on a gift book
Gift book
Gift books, literary annuals or a keepsake, were 19th century books, often lavishly decorated, which collected essays, short fiction, and poetry. They were primarily published in the autumn, in time for the holiday season and were intended to be given away rather than read by the purchaser...
called The Homes of American Authors (1852). Godwin expressed his antislavery sentiments in Putnam's and criticized then-president Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce was the 14th President of the United States and is the only President from New Hampshire. Pierce was a Democrat and a "doughface" who served in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate. Pierce took part in the Mexican-American War and became a brigadier general in the Army...
; backlash from Democrats hurt the circulation of the magazine, especially after November 1854, when Godwin published his essay "American Despotisms". In 1857, he and fellow editor Curtis supported Frederick Law Olmsted
Frederick Law Olmsted
Frederick Law Olmsted was an American journalist, social critic, public administrator, and landscape designer. He is popularly considered to be the father of American landscape architecture, although many scholars have bestowed that title upon Andrew Jackson Downing...
as designer of Central Park
Central Park
Central Park is a public park in the center of Manhattan in New York City, United States. The park initially opened in 1857, on of city-owned land. In 1858, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a design competition to improve and expand the park with a plan they entitled the Greensward Plan...
.
In 1865, Godwin returned to the Evening Post. He became sole editor of Putnam's from January 1868 to November 1870. Later, he edited the posthumous works of William Cullen Bryant
William Cullen Bryant
William Cullen Bryant was an American romantic poet, journalist, and long-time editor of the New York Evening Post.-Youth and education:...
as Poetical Works (1883) and Complete Prose Writings (1884) as well as A Biography of William Cullen Bryant, with Extracts from his private Correspondence (1883).
Godwin died of an illness at 5:30 a.m. on January 7, 1904, at his New York home, surrounded by several of his daughters.
Works
Besides the works mentioned above, he wrote:- Popular View of the Doctrines of Charles Fourier (New York, 1844)
- Constructive Democracy (1851)
- Vala, a Mythological Tale (1851)
- A Handbook of Universal Biography (1851; new ed., entitled Cyclopedia of Biography, 1871)
- Political Essays (1856)
- History of France (1st vol., 1861)
- Out of the Past, a volume of essays (1870)
- New Study of Shakespeare's Sonnets (1901)
He made translations from the prose of Goethe, Fouqué
Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué
Friedrich Heinrich Karl de la Motte, Baron Fouqué was a German writer of the romantic style.-Biography:He was born at Brandenburg an der Havel, of a family of French Huguenot origin, as evidenced in his family name...
, and Zschokke.