Orson Desaix Munn
Orson Desaix Munn | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | June 11, 1824 |
| Died | February 28, 1907 (aged 82) The Bronx, New York |
| Resting place | Woodlawn Cemetery |
| Occupation | Publisher |
| Known for | Munn & Company Scientific American |
| Children | Charles Allen Munn Henry Norcross Munn |
| Parent(s) | Rice Munn, Lavinia Shaw |
| Relatives | Orson Desaix Munn II |
Orson Desaix Munn (June 11, 1824 – February 28, 1907) was the publisher of Scientific American.
Biography
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Orson Desaix Munn was born on June 11, 1824, in Monson, Massachusetts. He received his education at the academy in his native town, and, deciding on a business career, went to work for a bookstore in Springfield. After two years of this experience, he returned to accept a more important commercial trust in Monson, but soon found his way to New York City.[1]
He took over the publishing operations of Munn & Company, a New York patent firm, with Salem Howe Wales and Alfred Ely Beach as editor.[2]
With Beach, he bought the six-month-old Scientific American magazine from Rufus Porter.[3] The purchase price of this property was less than $1,000, and it included a subscription list of 200 names. Porter continued as editor, and the enterprise, placed on a sound business basis, at once proved a success. It was the first popular scientific journal in the United States, and it is now the oldest, having a recognized standing throughout the civilized world. Its function has been the publication of the record of the progress of art and science both at home and abroad.[1]
In 1876 the demand upon its space was so great, owing to the increased interest that resulted from the Centennial Exposition, that a Scientific American Supplement was started. An architect and builders edition, published monthly, was established in 1885;[1] Scientific American Building Monthly was renamed American Homes and Gardens magazine in July 1905.[4][5]
Among the earliest requests made to the publishers of the Scientific American was for advice concerning the procuring of letters-patent for new inventions, there being at that time no professional patent solicitors. This department of the business developed with great rapidity, and a branch office for it was soon opened in Washington, D.C. For many years Munn & Co. enjoyed a virtual monopoly of this class of business, and upward of 100,000 applications for patents were made by this house. Munn strictly adhered to a principle never to invest a penny in any patented invention.[1]
In August 1849, Munn married Julia Augusta Allen. They had two sons, Henry Norcross Munn and Charles Allen Munn.
Munn died on 28 February 1907,[6] and was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Wilson, J. G.; Fiske, J., eds. (1900). . Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography. New York: D. Appleton.
- ^ "History of the United States Patent Office, Chapter 22". myoutbox.net. Retrieved 2015-02-28.
- ^ "June 11". Today in Sci. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
- ^ "Contents". American Homes and Gardens. July 1905. Retrieved 2017-02-01.
- ^ "Catalog Record: American Homes and Gardens". HathiTrust. Retrieved 2017-02-01.
- ^ "Orson Desaix Munn". New York Times. 4 March 1907.
Funeral services at the Madison Square Presbyterian Church ...
External links
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Media related to Orson Desaix Munn at Wikimedia Commons
Works related to Munn, Orson Desaix at Wikisource- Orson Desaix Munn at Find a Grave
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