William Conant Church

William Conant Church ( born August 11, 1836 in Rochester, New York, † May 23, 1917 in New York City ) was an American publisher, journalist and soldier. He was one of the founders of the National Rifle Association.

Life

William Conant Church was the son of a Baptist minister. His father Pharcellus was also a journalist and founded "The New York Chronicle ". William was educated at the Boston Latin School. During his youth he was active at age 19 and helped his father in editing and issuing the New York Chronicle. In 1860 he was publisher of the New York Sun and from 1861-1862 he was Washington correspondent of the New York Times.

He retired from his journalistic position after his appointment as Captain in the U.S. Volunteer Army in 1861 and served two years back, where he received the Ranks Major and Lieutenant Colonel. In 1863 he married Mary Elizabeth Metcalf. With his brother Francis Pharcellus Church he founded The Army and Navy Journal in 1863, and the monthly Galaxy Magazine in 1866.

Together with George Wood Wingate, he established the rank of colonel on 17 November 1871, the " National Rifle Association " in 1872 and released their first president, retired General Ambrose Everett Burnside, in office from.

Church was Government Commissioner for examining the Northern Pacific Railroad in 1882. He wrote two biographies on John Ericsson in 1891 and Ulysses S. Grant in 1899.

Church was also one of the founders of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, a founding member of the "Military Order of the Loyal Legion" and was a lifetime member and Director of the " New York Zoological Society " (New York Zoological Society ).