The Biographical Dictionary of America/Appleton, William Henry

APPLETON, William Henry, publisher, was born in Haverhill, Mass., Jan. 27, 1814, eldest son of Daniel and Hannah (Adams) Appleton. He was educated in the public schools of Haverhill, and removed to New York in 1825. He became a clerk in his father's store in 1830, was made head of the book department, and in 1835 went to England as buyer, after which he made frequent trips to the great cities of Europe in the interests of the firm. In 1838 he was taken into partnership by his father, and in 1848 became head of the firm. In 1868 he built and endowed Appleton's church home, at Macon, Ga., the orphanage to be conducted by the diaconal community of St. Katharine, named in memory of his daughter, and the home to commemorate the consecration of Bishop Beckwith. Mr. Appleton was the first president of the American publishers' copyright league. He died in Riverdale, N.Y., Oct. 19, 1899.