The New International Encyclopædia/Dana, Charles Anderson

DA′NA, Charles Anderson (1819-97). An American journalist, born at Hinsdale, N. H., August 8, 1819. He studied at Harvard, but, owing to defective eyesight, did not graduate. He joined the Brook Farm Association in 1841, edited in its interest The Harbinger, oontributed to the Boston Chronotype, and, after the failure of Brook Farm, was, with its founder, Ripley (q.v.), connected with the New York Tribune (1847-62). Disagreement with Horace Greeley in war politics, proclaimed in a once-famous editorial, “On to Richmond,” forced his resignation. He was Assistant Secretary of War in 1863-64. After the war he edited the Chicago Republican, which failed. He then returned to New York and became part proprietor and editor-in-chief of the New York Sun — a position which he held from 1868 to his death. With George Ripley he planned and edited the New American Cyclopædia (1857-63), and its successor, the American Cyclopædia (1873-76). He compiled also the well-known Household Book of Poetry (1857), and collaborated in a Life of Grant (1868). Other works are: The Art of Newspaper Making (1895); Lincoln and His Cabinet (1896); and Recollections (1897). At the time of his death at Glen Cove, L. I., on October 17, 1897, Mr. Dana was in many ways the most noted journalist in the country. He had a brilliant intellect and understood every detail of the art of making a good newspaper, but he was generally believed to be so intense in his prejudices that he failed to acquire the authority to which his talents entitled him.