J. Heron Foster facts for kids
James Heron Foster (born April 18, 1822 – died April 21, 1868) was an important journalist and politician from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He started three different newspapers in Pittsburgh, and the most famous one was the Pittsburgh Dispatch.
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About James Heron Foster
Early Life and Newspaper Career
James Heron Foster was born in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, on April 18, 1822. When he was about nine years old, in 1831, he moved to Pittsburgh. His father, Alexander W. Foster, was a well-known lawyer in Western Pennsylvania.
When he was young, James learned how to work in the printing business. At just 19 years old, he became the first editor of the Pittsburgh Morning Chronicle newspaper. He worked with the publisher Richard G. Berford. From the very beginning, Foster used his newspaper to fight for social and moral improvements. He wrote about making the community better.
After working at the Chronicle, he helped start another newspaper called the Spirit of the Age. Later, this paper became the Commercial Journal. In 1846, he launched the very first issue of the Pittsburgh Dispatch. He stayed involved with the Dispatch as an editor and owner for the rest of his life.
Political Life and Public Service
James Foster strongly opposed slavery. In late 1852, a political group called the Free Soil Party chose him to run for Mayor of Pittsburgh. He came in third place, behind the two main candidates.
By 1855, he joined another political group known as the Know Nothings. He was considered a very important editor for this group in Pittsburgh. Foster was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives twice. He served in 1858 and again in 1859. Each time, he was part of a combined ticket with Republicans and their supporters.
Civil War Service and Later Years
During the American Civil War, Foster served as an officer in the Union Army. He eventually became a district Provost Marshal, which is like a military police chief. After the war, he was given a special honor, moving up in rank from captain to colonel for his excellent service. People had called him "Colonel" even before the war because of his rank in the state militia.
James Heron Foster had a long illness with lung disease. He passed away on April 21, 1868, at his home in Allegheny City. His funeral procession was very long, stretching over a mile as it went to Allegheny Cemetery. The famous writer Mark Twain wrote about Foster in his book The Innocents Abroad. Twain said he was "a most estimable gentleman" and was sad to hear of his death. They had met on a trip overseas that the book was based on.
James Foster and his wife, Julia Manuel Foster, had three children. One of their children was Rachel Foster Avery, who became a well-known supporter of women's right to vote.
