Edwin
Godkin
was born in County Wicklow, Ireland,
on 2nd October, 1831. He studied at Queen's College, Belfast
before working as a journalist in London
for the Daily News.
Godkin moved to the United States in 1856. He worked for various newspapers
before becoming editor of The Nation
in 1865. Godkin announced that the paper would support progressive
causes and advocate legislation "that seems likely to promote
equal distribution of the fruits of progress and civilization"
The journal supported women's suffrage,
equal rights for African Americans and public education. With the
help of the outstanding journalist, William
Dean Howells, circulation reached 10,000.
In June, 1881, Godkin sold the Nation to Henry
Villard. He now became associate editor of the New
York Evening Post before replacing Carl
Schurz as editor in chief in 1883. Edwin Godwin died on 21st May,
1902.
Available
from Amazon Books (order below)
