Benjamin Perley Poore facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Benjamin Perley Poore
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| Born | November 2, 1820 |
| Died | May 30, 1887 (aged 66) |
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Benjamin Perley Poore (born November 2, 1820 – died May 30, 1887) was a well-known American newspaper writer, editor, and author in the mid-1800s. He was one of the most popular and active journalists of his time. He strongly supported the Whig and Republican political parties.
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Who Was Benjamin Perley Poore?
Early Life and Education
Benjamin Perley Poore was born in Newburyport, Massachusetts. His family's home, Indian Hill Farm, was nearby in West Newbury, Massachusetts. When he was seven, his parents took him to Washington, D.C. for the first time.
Around this time, he started at Governor Dummer Academy in Byfield, Massachusetts. He was preparing to join the West Point military school. When he was eleven, his father took him to England. There, he met famous people like Walter Scott and Lafayette. Poore was later asked to leave Dummer Academy. After that, he became a printer's helper in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Starting His Journalism Career
Poore's father bought a newspaper in Athens, Georgia, called the Southern Whig. Benjamin Poore worked as its editor for two years. In 1841, he traveled to Europe again. He worked for the American government in Brussels, Belgium, until 1848. During this time, he was a foreign reporter for the Boston Atlas newspaper.
After working for other newspapers like the Boston Bee, Poore moved back to Washington, D.C., in 1854. He became a Washington correspondent, sending news stories back to newspapers. His interesting letters to The Boston Journal and other papers, signed "Perley," made him famous across the country.
A Famous Bet and a Long Walk
In 1856, Poore tried to become a member of the U.S. Congress for Massachusetts. He lost the election. That same year, he supported Millard Fillmore for president. Poore made a bet that Fillmore would get more votes in Massachusetts than his opponent, John C. Frémont. Poore lost the bet.
To keep his promise, he had to push a barrel of apples in a wheelbarrow. He pushed it all the way from his hometown of West Newbury to Boston. This was a 36-mile trip! It took him two days to complete the journey. When he arrived in Boston, a cheering crowd of 10,000 people met him. There was even a military escort and members of local Fillmore clubs.
During the Civil War
During the Civil War, Poore helped create a group of riflemen in Newbury. This group became part of the 8th Massachusetts volunteers. Poore served as a major for a short time. Because of this, people called him "Major Poore" for the rest of his life. In 1862, Poore and the famous writer Nathaniel Hawthorne visited President Abraham Lincoln at the White House.
Working for the Government
Besides his newspaper work, Poore also worked for the United States Senate. He helped with printing official records. He edited the Congressional Directory starting in 1867. This book lists all the members of Congress. He also worked on the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
Other Achievements
In 1874, Poore was chosen to be a member of the American Antiquarian Society. This group studies American history and culture.
In 1885, Poore helped start the Gridiron Club. He was its first president. The Gridiron Club held social events to bring reporters and politicians together. These events helped fix any bad feelings caused by news stories. Gridiron dinners included funny songs and skits performed by top journalists in Washington. Today, the Club's yearly dinners still attract presidents and other important people.
Benjamin Perley Poore passed away in Washington, D.C., on May 30, 1887.
What Did Benjamin Perley Poore Write?
Benjamin Perley Poore wrote many books and articles during his life. Here are some of his notable works:
- Campaign Life of General Zachary Taylor (1848)
- The Rise and Fall of Louis Philippe, Ex-king of the French (Boston, 1848)
- Early Life of Napoleon Bonaparte (1851)
- The Conspiracy Trial for the Murder of Abraham Lincoln (1865)
- Federal and State Charters (2 volumes, 1877)
- The Life and Public Services of Ambrose E. Burnside (1882)
- A Descriptive Catalogue of the Government Publications of the United States, 1774-1881 (1885)
- Perley's Reminiscences of Sixty Years in the National Metropolis Vol. I (Philadelphia, 1886)
- Perley's Reminiscences of Sixty Years in the National Metropolis Vol. II (Philadelphia, 1886)
