William Randolph Hearst

U.S. Congressperson

1863 – 1951

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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.

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Born
Apr 29, 1863
San Francisco
Also known as
  • W.R
  • The Chief
Parents
Spouses
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

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"William Randolph Hearst." Biographies.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Mar. 2024. <https://www.biographies.net/people/en/william_randolph_hearst>.

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