James Harper (publisher)

James Harper ( born April 13, 1795 in Newtown, Long Iceland, † March 27, 1869 ) was an American publisher and politician. He was co-founder of Harper & Brothers, a precursor of HarperCollins, and mayor of New York 1844-45.

Life

Harper was born as the eldest of four sons of Joseph and Elizabeth Kolyer Harper. He was brought up Methodist and attended only irregularly the synagogue, as he often had to help with the farm work. At the age of 16, he went to New York to at the company Paul & Thomas, whose co-owner was a friend of the family to learn the printing trade. During this time he became friends with the also as a printer apprentice employed there Thurlow Weed, whom he later his political contacts owed ​​.

With the next younger brother John (1797-1875) he founded in 1817 the printing house of J. & J. Harper. The younger brothers, Joseph Wesley (1801-1870) and Fletcher (1806-1877) were later also joined the company, which had grown by the clever corporate policy of the brothers until 1825 the largest book printer in New York. It mainly literary works by European and American authors, as well as philosophical works were published. 1833 the company name (company) was changed to Harper & Brothers. One of the first major successes of the publishing house was the book Awful Disclosures of Maria Monk, which was sold in 300,000 copies. Thanks to a law of the State of New York, the company won a contract in 1838 for the equipment of many school libraries. Great success of the publishing house were also Harper's Family Library and the New England School Library.

1844 Harper stepped up to the nativist American Republican Party, a precursor of the Know-Nothing Party in the elections for mayor and won against the Locofoco and the Whig candidate. As mayor, he began ( according to plans by Peter Cooper) the construction of the first municipal police force (now New York City Police Department ) and plans for the construction of a municipal sewer system. As early as 1845 but took over the force as corrupt Tammany Hall back in control of the mayors.

1850 was issued based on an idea Harper, the first issue of Harper's Monthly Magazine. The control of the leaf took over his brother Fletcher. 1857 came to Harper's Weekly. From 1861 until his death, Harper was a member of the Board of Vassar College in Poughkeepsie.

Harper was married to Mary Arcularius, with whom he had a son and died in 1847. He married Julia Thorne then, who bore him a son and two daughters.

On March 25, 1869 Harper was thrown in an accident in his carriage from the vehicle and died two days later in hospital. He is buried in Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn.

The Harper Avenue in the Bronx was named for James Harper.

• Man
• Americans
• Publisher (19th Century )
• Mayor (New York City )
• Born in 1795
• Died in 1869