Biography:

Whitelaw Reid was a journalist, politician, and editor and publisher of the New York Tribune (1873-1912), and ambassador to Great Britain.

Reid was born on October 27, 1837 in Ohio.  He joined the Cincinnati Gazette in 1862 and served as a war correspondent during the Civil War.  He worked at the Gazette until 1868 and also served as librarian of the House of Representatives (1863-1866).  In 1868, Horace Greeley, one of the nation’s most famous newspaper editors, hired him to work for the New York Tribune.  In 1872, Reid managed Greeley’s presidential campaign.  Greeley lost the election and died a few weeks later.  Reid bought the Tribune in 1873, and under his leadership, the newspaper became one of the most widely circulated and respected dailies in the country. 

Reid served as ambassador to France from 1889-1892.  In 1892, he became President Benjamin Harrison’s running mate during the 1892 election.  Harrison and Reid lost the election to Democrat and former president, Grover Cleveland. President Theodore Roosevelt later appointed him to serve as ambassador to Great Britain.  Reid died on December 15, 1912 in England.