William Randolph Hearst
U.S. Congressperson
1863 – 1951
Who was William Randolph Hearst?
William Randolph Hearst was an American newspaper publisher who built the nation’s largest newspaper chain and whose methods profoundly influenced American journalism. Hearst entered the publishing business in 1887 after taking control of The San Francisco Examiner from his father. Moving to New York City, he acquired The New York Journal and engaged in a bitter circulation war with Joseph Pulitzer's New York World that led to the creation of yellow journalism—sensationalized stories of dubious veracity. Acquiring more newspapers, Hearst created a chain that numbered nearly 30 papers in major American cities at its peak. He later expanded to magazines, creating the largest newspaper and magazine business in the world.
He was twice elected as a Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives, and ran unsuccessfully for Mayor of New York City in 1905 and 1909, for Governor of New York in 1906, and for Lieutenant Governor of New York in 1910. Nonetheless, through his newspapers and magazines, he exercised enormous political influence, and was sometimes blamed for pushing public opinion with his yellow journalism type of reporting in the United States into a war with Spain in 1898.
We need you!
Help us build the largest biographies collection on the web!
- Born
- Apr 29, 1863
San Francisco - Also known as
- W.R
- The Chief
- Parents
- Spouses
- Millicent Hearst
(1903/04/28 - 1951/08/14) - Marion Davies
(1917 - 1951/08/14)
- Millicent Hearst
- Children
- Nationality
- United States of America
- Profession
- Education
- Harvard University
- Harvard College
- Lived in
- San Francisco
- Died
- Aug 14, 1951
Beverly Hills - Resting place
- Cypress Lawn Memorial Park
Submitted
on July 23, 2013
Citation
Use the citation below to add to a bibliography:
Style:MLAChicagoAPA
"William Randolph Hearst." Biographies.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Mar. 2024. <https://www.biographies.net/people/en/william_randolph_hearst>.
Discuss this William Randolph Hearst biography with the community:
Report Comment
We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.
If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.
Attachment
You need to be logged in to favorite.
Log In