George Hooker Colton (October 15, 1818 – December 1, 1847) was an American newspaper editor who founded The American Review: A Whig Journal in 1844.[1][2] Colton served as the American Whig Review's editor from 1844 until his death in 1847, publishing from New York City.[1][2] After Colton's death, James Davenport Whelpley took over as chief editor.
George Hooker Colton | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 15, 1818 Westford, New York, U.S. |
| Died | December 1, 1847 (aged 29) |
| Alma mater | Yale University |
| Occupation | Newspaper editor |
| Years active | 1840–1847 |
| Known for | Founding the American Whig Review |
| Political party | Whig Party |
Early life edit
George Hooker Colton was born in Westford, New York on October 15, 1818.[1]
Colton attended Yale University and graduated in 1840.[1] After graduating, Colton was briefly a teacher in New Haven, Connecticut before publishing his poem "Tecumseh".[1]
American Whig Review edit
George Colton founded the The American Review: A Whig Journal in 1844 as a monthly periodical published by Wiley and Putnam. Colton was a Whig and founded the review to further the Whig Party's political objectives.[3] The American Review first published in Autumn 1844 but was serialized starting in January 1845.[4]
Relationship with Edgar Allan Poe edit
In February 1845, Edgar Allan Poe sold his famous poem "The Raven" to Colton's journal after Poe's friend George Rex Graham declined to publish it.[5] Poe continued to publish his poems through Colton, including "Some Words with a Mummy" and "The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar".
The literary relationship between Poe and Colton continued when, in May 1846, Poe harshly critiqued Colton's poem "Tecumseh".[6] Poe called "Tecumseh" "insufferably tedious", however, Poe offered a shining review of Colton's American Review in the same breadth.[6]
Mexican-American War edit
In the January 1847 edition of The American Review, one of his last, Colton sharply criticized President James K. Polk over the Mexican–American War.[7] Colton, previously supportive of President Polk, turned against his administration, declaring "[W]e are sick of following the president through the sort of defence he has ventured to set up for invading Mexico."[8]
Death edit
George Hooker Colton died December 1, 1847, remaining The American Review's "able editor" until death.[1][2] Colton's death was announced in the subsequent edition of The American Review, where longtime colleague James Davenport Whelpley pledged to succeed Colton.[9]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f Connors, Thomas J. (June 1979). "Guide to the Colton Family Papers" (PDF). Yale University Library (in French and English): 6.
- ^ a b c Statistics of the Class of 1840 (PDF). New Haven, Connecticut. 1871. p. 20.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Colton, George H. (1845). "The American Review: A Whig Journal, No. 1". The American Review: A Whig Journal. 1 (1): 2 – via HathiTrust.
- ^ Colton, George H. (1845). "The American Review: A Whig Journal, No. 1". The American Review: A Whig Journal. 1: 1 – via HathiTrust.
- ^ Kopley, Richard; Silverman, Kenneth (June 1992). "Edgar A. Poe: Mournful and Never-ending Remembrance". American Literature. 64 (2): 373. doi:10.2307/2927846. ISSN 0002-9831. JSTOR 2927846.
- ^ a b Tomc, Sandra (2018-08-08), Kennedy, J. Gerald; Peeples, Scott (eds.), "Edgar Allan Poe and His Enemies", The Oxford Handbook of Edgar Allan Poe, Oxford University Press, pp. 558–575, doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190641870.013.32, ISBN 978-0-19-064187-0, retrieved 2023-07-05
- ^ Colton, George H. (January 1847). "The American Review: A Whig Journal". The American Review: A Whig Journal. 5 (1): 1–2 – via HathiTrust.
- ^ Colton, George H. (January 1847). "The American Review: A Whig Journal". The American Review: A Whig Journal. 5 (1): 16 – via HathiTrust.
- ^ Whelphey, James Davenport; Barnard, D. D. (January 1, 1848). "The American Review: A Whig Journal". The American Review: A Whig Journal. 7 (1): 0 – via HathiTrust.