Background
He was born in Chicago, attended Lake Forest Academy in Lake Forest, Illinois, and graduated from Williams College in 1871, and then began the study of law.
He was born in Chicago, attended Lake Forest Academy in Lake Forest, Illinois, and graduated from Williams College in 1871, and then began the study of law.
After the great fire in Chicago he became a reporter on the Times, later joined the staff of the Interior, and in 1873 became connected with the Chicago Tribune, of which he was successively assistant night editor, Washington correspondent, editorial writer, managing editor, and editor in chief He was also president of the Chicago Tribune Company. Patterson lived in the Patterson Mansion, a Neoclassical 30-room home on Dupont Circle in Washington, District of Columbia, where he entertained many prominent people of the day.