Edward Cary

Background

Edward Cary was born on June 5, 1840 in Albany, New York, United States. He grew up in his native city. He was the son of Joseph Lydia (Chase) Cary of Quaker stock.

Education

Cary’s elementary schooling was obtained in his native city. Having completed his junior year at Union College, Schenectady, N. Y. , he returned to Albany to continue his studies at the Law School there.

Career

In 1871, George Jones, proprietor of the New York Times, was seeking an editorial writer. Cary at thirty-one, with eight years of newspaper writing behind him, was selected by Jones as the man to take the place. The opportunity appealed to the young man. The Times was in its fight with the Tweed ring and in national politics was assuming an independent attitude. Cary took the chair, which he was not to relinquish until his death after forty-six years of exacting but fruitful toil.

Shortly after beginning work on the Times, he made a positive stand in opposition to free silver coinage. This he consistently maintained for more than a quarter of a century, until the question was removed from the sphere of practical politics. Later he held an equally definite course on the subject of tariff reduction. In civil service reform he was one of the pioneers, not only warmly supporting the movement with his pen, but taking a personal part in the leadership, with George William Curtis, Carl Schurz, Dorman B. Eaton, and others.

His advocacy in the Times of Grover Cleveland's candidacy was a factor of no slight importance in the national election of 1884. In both of Cleveland's terms as president the Times gave him able and hearty support. By the time Cary came to the Times desk the old manner of editorial polemics had about run its course in New York. Editors were no longer calling one another scoundrels and liars in cold type.

Cary was gifted in a style of writing that was suited to the new demands. Partisan pleas and vituperation were alike distasteful to him. He excelled in the calm, clear, and succinct statement of economic facts and principles, without embroidery. His audience may not have been large (in the early years), but it was influential to the degree that brains count for power in the long run. The Times editorials were widely quoted by other newspapers.

According to estimates made by his colleagues, Cary's contributions to the editorial page averaged 6, 000 words each week for the entire period of his service, reaching a total of more than 14, 000, 000 words the equivalent of two substantial volumes a year for the forty-six years. A remarkably large percentage of this output was of more than ephemeral interest; indeed much of it, in economic and political discussions, was of permanent value. In 1894 he contributed George William Curtis to the American Men of Letters series.

Achievements

• Cary's contributions to the editorial page averaged 6, 000 words each week for the entire period of his service, reaching a total of more than 14, 000, 000 words the equivalent of two substantial volumes a year for the forty-six years.

Politics

Cary was at first a Republican, and a defender of the Lincoln administration, but after the Civil War he found himself less and less in sympathy with the tenets of the party in power.

Connections

Cary had been married in 1864 to Elisabeth Luther, of Albany. His daughter, Elisabeth Luther Cary, was for many years editor of the art department of the New York Times.

Wife:

Elisabeth Luther

Daughter:

Elisabeth Luther Cary