William Mason Grosvenor

Background

William Mason Grosvenor was born in Ashfield, Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States on April 24, 1835, a descendant of John Grosvenor who emigrated from England to Roxbury, Massachusetts, United States about 1670.

Education

William entered Yale in 1851, but remained only three years.

Career

From 1859 to 1861 William Mason Grosvenor was editor of the New Haven Palladium. In the latter year he enlisted in the 13th Regiment, Connecticut Volunteers. He was made adjutant, then promoted to captain, December 1862, was wounded at Port Hudson, and in October 1863 was commissioned colonel of the 2nd Regiment of Louisiana Native Guards.

Returning to New Haven in 1864, he was for two years editor of the Journal-Courier. In 1866 he became editor of the St. Louis Democrat, which position he held, except for a period between 1870 and 1872, until 1875.

During this period he also wrote a volume filled with arguments and supporting statistics on the tariff, entitled Does Protection Protect (1871), answering the inquiry in the affirmative.

During 1873-74 he proved statistically the illicit production of whiskey and specifically identified many offenders. His figures and conclusions were furnished the United States government, and on the strength of them Benjamin H. Bristow, then (1875) secretary of the treasury, secured the indictment of more than a hundred distillers, federal inspectors, and others, and obtained many convictions, thus completely breaking up the St. Louis Whiskey Ring.

From 1875 to I900 Grosvenor was economic editor of the New York Tribune, and a writer of editorials on national and international affairs. With John R. G. Hassard, the two working independently, he deciphered the famous code telegraphic dispatches having to do with the presidential election crisis of 1876.

He was the author of American Securities (1885) and edited Dun's Review from 1893 until his death. His advice was frequently sought by representatives of the federal government in framing tariff acts and financial measures.

During the Homestead strike in 1892, he made and published a detailed statement of wages, hours, production, and cost of living in Homestead that largely affected public opinion. He refused to hold office, and would never accept railroad passes or similar favors.

During the panic of 1893 he controlled the Electro Matrix Printing Company, personally holding much of the stock.

The company was at a standstill for lack of funds that had been subscribed but could not be paid. Probably at the suggestion of David R. Francis, secretary of the interior, John G. Carlisle ( secretary of the treasury, requested Grosvenor, as an economist and statistician, to come to Washington to advise on the proposition that the United States Treasury issue additional currency and aid in extending credits.

Deeming the proposition economically unsound, Grosvenor explained to his family what his advice would be and that it might insure the failure of the enterprise in which he was financially interested. Upon reaching Washington he saw no reason to alter his opinion, advised against the proposed action, and lost a fortune in the subsequent Electro Matrix failure.

Achievements

• Grosvenor was the author a famous book of Does Protection Protect (1871). He served as editor to numerous publications a writer of editorials on national and international affairs.

Works

More photos

• book

  • American Securities: The Causes Influencing Investment and Speculation and the Fluctuations in Values, From 1872 to 1885 (Classic Reprint)

    (Excerpt from American Securities: The Causes Influencing ...)

  • Does Protection Protect? An Examination of the Effect of Different Forms of Tariff Upon American Industry

    (Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We h...)

  • Does protection protect? An examination of the effect of different forms of tariff upon American ind

    (This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curat...)

  • Does Protection Protect?

    (This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curat...)

  • Does Protection Protect?: An Examination of the Effect of Different Forms of Tariff Upon American Industry 1871

    (Originally published in 1871. This volume from the Cornel...)

Religion

William Mason Grosvenor was a person of uncompromising integrity, a Presbyterian in religious belief, and active in the church of which he was a member.

Politics

William Mason Grosvenor supported Republican party. While in St. Louis, William Mason Grosvenor entered vigorously into the Liberal Republican movement, and with Joseph Pulitzer led it to success. As editor of the Democrat and personal friend of many prominent Republicans in St. Louis, he was influential in the final overthrow of radical Republicanism in Missouri.

His support of Carl Schurz’s candidacy for the United States Senate was responsible for Schurz’s election. In his campaign Schurz spoke of Grosvenor as his manager.

Views

Quotations: “It might sometime unexpectedly be my duty to heave a brick editorially through the front window of some railroad or public utility office, and my aim is likely to be truer if I haven’t a pocketful of passes. ”

Personality

Grosvenor was a man of powerful physique. He had a magnificent head and shoulders, had bristly eyebrows, long hair, and a long beard.

William Mason Grosvenor enjoyed personal acquaintanceship with most of the presidential candidates, cabinet officers, and many of the senators and representatives in Congress during the period of his public life.

William Mason Grosvenor was gifted in music, literature, mathematics, and as a linguist; was one of the most expert amateur billiard players in New York, could carry on three games of chess simultaneously, and played a remarkable game of whist and of tennis.

Interests

• music, literature, mathematics, linguistics

• Sport & Clubs

  billiards, chess, whist, tennis

Connections

William Mason Grosvenor was twice married, first to Ellen M. Stone who died in 1867, and in 1870, to Ellen Sage.

His second wife, Minna Ruyter, whom he married in Germany, survived him.

Father:

Mason Grosvenor

Mother:

Esther D. Scarborough

Second wife:

Minna Ruyter

First wife:

Ellen M. Stone

References

• Jane Eyre (Penguin Classics)
• A Cruel Divorce - Taming Timmy - My Not So Loving Wife: Three Books of Betrayal and Wifely Dominance
• The man who burned the White House: Admiral Sir George Cockburn, 1772-1853
• Ice & Rapture (Leisure Historical Romance)