Thomas Gardiner
Encyclopedia
Thomas Gardiner was the manager of the San Diego Union and a founder of the Los Angeles Daily Times, the precursor to today's Los Angeles Times
.
Gardiner was born near Glasgow, Scotland, in June 1826. As a boy, he entered the dry goods business in Kilmarnock, Scotland. He emigrated to the United States and settled first in Cleveland, Ohio, then went to California as part of the gold rush of 1850
. In 1852, he settled permanently in California, where he became publisher of the Sacramento Union
. In December 1881 he assisted Nathan Cole Jr.
in the establishment of the Los Angeles Times but had to give up the business after only a short time when he could not pay a printing bill for the newspaper, which was then taken over by Jesse Yarnell
, Thomas J. Caystile and S.J. Mathes
, proprietors of the printing establishment.
In September 1882 he joined in starting another newspaper, the Los Angeles Telegram, which he moved to Portland, Oregon, after less than a month. After briefly being affiliated with a quarterly publication in Arizona, he settled in San Diego
, where he became advertising manager for the Coronado Beach Company. He became manager of the San Diego Union in 1891.
Gardiner was said to be something of a dandy. Fifty-seven years after his death, a Times reporter wrote that Gardiner "wore mutton-chop whiskers
, a high silk hat and a frock coat
to the astonishment of Los Angeles citizens" and that Cole, who was the son of a rich St. Louis
resident, put up most of the money to found the Times, but it was Gardiner who "imperiously went about the streets as business manager
."
In his last months, he suffered from heart and kidney troubles, and he died on June 10, 1899. He was survived by a wife and four sons. His remains were buried in Oakland, California.
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
.
Gardiner was born near Glasgow, Scotland, in June 1826. As a boy, he entered the dry goods business in Kilmarnock, Scotland. He emigrated to the United States and settled first in Cleveland, Ohio, then went to California as part of the gold rush of 1850
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
. In 1852, he settled permanently in California, where he became publisher of the Sacramento Union
Sacramento Union
The Sacramento Union was a daily newspaper founded in 1851 in Sacramento, California. It was the oldest daily newspaper west of the Mississippi River before it closed its doors after 143 years in January 1994, no longer able to compete with The Sacramento Bee, which was founded in 1857, just six...
. In December 1881 he assisted Nathan Cole Jr.
Nathan Cole Jr.
Nathan Cole Jr. was one of the two founders of the Los Angeles Daily Times, now the Los Angeles Times. The son of a wealthy St. Louis, Missouri, politician and banker, he was just 21 years old in 1881 when he and a colleague, Thomas Gardiner, put together the first issues of the new venture to be...
in the establishment of the Los Angeles Times but had to give up the business after only a short time when he could not pay a printing bill for the newspaper, which was then taken over by Jesse Yarnell
Jesse Yarnell
Thomas Jesse Yarnell, known as Jesse Yarnell, was a California newspaperman who established the Los Angeles, California, Weekly Mirror, which took over the Los Angeles Times in 1881 and later merged with it....
, Thomas J. Caystile and S.J. Mathes
S.J. Mathes
Samuel Jay Mathes, known as S.J. Mathes, was a pioneer printer and newspaperman in Los Angeles, California, who in 1881 and 1882 directed the editorial policies of the newly established Los Angeles Daily Times, which later became the Los Angeles Times, until General Harrison Gray Otis took over...
, proprietors of the printing establishment.
In September 1882 he joined in starting another newspaper, the Los Angeles Telegram, which he moved to Portland, Oregon, after less than a month. After briefly being affiliated with a quarterly publication in Arizona, he settled in San Diego
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, where he became advertising manager for the Coronado Beach Company. He became manager of the San Diego Union in 1891.
Gardiner was said to be something of a dandy. Fifty-seven years after his death, a Times reporter wrote that Gardiner "wore mutton-chop whiskers
Sideburns
Sideburns or sideboards are patches of facial hair grown on the sides of the face, extending from the hairline to below the ears and worn with an unbearded chin...
, a high silk hat and a frock coat
Frock coat
A frock coat is a man's coat characterised by knee-length skirts all around the base, popular during the Victorian and Edwardian periods. The double-breasted style is sometimes called a Prince Albert . The frock coat is a fitted, long-sleeved coat with a centre vent at the back, and some features...
to the astonishment of Los Angeles citizens" and that Cole, who was the son of a rich St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
resident, put up most of the money to found the Times, but it was Gardiner who "imperiously went about the streets as business manager
Business manager
In a general context, a business manager is a person who manages the work of others in order to run a business efficiently and make a large profit...
."
In his last months, he suffered from heart and kidney troubles, and he died on June 10, 1899. He was survived by a wife and four sons. His remains were buried in Oakland, California.