William Conant Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Conant Church
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William Conant Church around 1900
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| Born | August 11, 1836 |
| Died | May 23, 1917 (aged 80) |
William Conant Church (born August 11, 1836 – died May 23, 1917) was an American journalist and soldier. He is known for helping to start the National Rifle Association (NRA) and later becoming its second president.
Contents
Early Life and Journalism Career
William Conant Church was born in Rochester, New York, on August 11, 1836. His father was Reverend Pharcellus Church. William went to school at the Boston Latin School. Even when he was young, he helped his father edit and publish a newspaper called the New York Chronicle.
In 1860, William became a publisher for two newspapers: The Sun and the New York Chronicle. From 1861 to 1862, he worked as a reporter in Washington, D.C. for The New York Times.
Military Service and New Publications
In 1862, William left his job as a journalist to join the United States Volunteers as a captain. He served in the military for one year. During his service, he earned honorary promotions to major and lieutenant colonel.
After his military service, in 1863, William and his brother, Francis Pharcellus Church, started a newspaper called The Army and Navy Journal. This paper was published for 151 years, finally ending in 2014 as Armed Forces Journal. In 1866, the brothers also started a magazine called Galaxy Magazine.
Founding the National Rifle Association
In 1871, William Conant Church and George Wood Wingate worked together to create the National Rifle Association (NRA). The NRA was formed to improve rifle shooting skills among soldiers and citizens. In 1872, William Church became the second president of the NRA, taking over from the first president, General Ambrose Burnside.
Other Achievements and Later Life
William Church was also involved in other important projects. In 1882, the government asked him to inspect the Northern Pacific Railroad. He also wrote two biographies, which are books about someone's life. One was about John Ericsson (published in 1891), and the other was about Ulysses S. Grant (published in 1899).
He used his Army and Navy Journal to share his thoughts. In one issue, he wrote about the living conditions on the USS Monitor, a ship designed by John Ericsson.
William Church helped found the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which is a famous museum in New York City. He was also an early member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. Later in life, he became a director and a lifetime member of the New York Zoological Society.
William Conant Church passed away on May 23, 1917. His funeral was held at Grace Church in Lower Manhattan.
