Henry George

In October 1860, while he was still struggling in San Francisco, Henry George met Annie Corsina Fox, a seventeen year old orphaned girl from Sydney, living under the guardianship of her grandmother. Since her guardians did not approve of the match they eloped sometime in late 1861 and got married.

In spite of initial poverty, they had a happy married life. Among their four children, Henry George Jr., who grew up to be a renowned politician, was the eldest. Their second child, Richard F. George, would become a sculptor. Thereafter, they had two daughters, Jennie George and Anna Angela George.

In 1890, Henry George suffered his first stroke. Thereafter, his health began to fail. In spite of that, he was persuaded to stand in the 1897 Mayoral election as an Independent Democrat. The strain of the campaign triggered another stroke, leading to his death on October 29, 1897.

Henry George was born on September 2, 1839 in Philadelphia. His father, Richard Samuel Henry George, a second generation immigrant from England, was a devout Episcopalian. Initially a dry good merchant and a customhouse clerk, he later became a vestryman at St. Paul’s Episcopalian Church and started publishing Sunday-school books.

His mother, Catharine Pratt George (née Vallance), was his father’s second wife. He married her several years after the death of his first wife, with whom he had two children, both of whom died in childhood.

Henry was born second of his parents’ ten children. Apart from an elder sister named Caroline, he had five younger sisters named Jane, Catherine, Chloe, Mary and Rebecca and three younger brothers named Thomas, John and Morris. Among them, Mary and Rebecca died in infancy.

From his childhood, Henry was brought up in a puritanical atmosphere. His parents tried to instill in him a loyalty both to the Episcopalian Church and the Democratic Party. Although in later years, he strongly detested slavery and voted for the Republicans, he retained Episcopalian sympathies all through his life.

Henry George began his elementary education at Mrs. Graham’s Private School, before moving to Mount Vernon Grammar School at the age of nine. A year later in 1849, he was enrolled at Episcopal Academy. Unable to adjust there, he convinced his father to withdraw him from the school.

Soon after leaving school, fourteen year old Henry George obtained employment at a china and glass importing house as a store clerk for $2 a week, later joining a marine claim adjuster. But all the while he kept reading and attending lectures at Franklin Institute.

Sometime now, he became interested in sea and in April 1855, set sail as a foremast boy on Hindoo, a ship bound for Australia and India, with his father’s permission. More than money, it was the adventure at sea, which drew him to this life.

On the way to Australia, he witnessed sailor’s mutiny, which left an everlasting impression on him. When he returned in June 1856, his father found him employment as a type setter for $2 a week with the largest publishing house in Philadelphia, a position he joined in September 1856.

The job helped him in many ways. He not only learned a trade, but also improved his spellings, which until then, was in bad shape. Moreover, he came into contact with other workers, which too left a lasting impression on him.

In June 1857, Henry George left his job after a quarrel with the foreman. He then joined a newspaper called ‘Argus’ before sailing for Boston on a coal-laden schooner. Thereafter, he successfully solicited an appointment as a steward on the United States Light House steamer, Shubrick, at $40 a month.

Like all other sailors, Henry George was compelled to sign an article, requiring him to serve till November 1858. But, by the time he reached San Francisco, he had enough of sea life. Moreover, he too was caught by the ‘gold excitement’ that was sweeping through the land.

In between failed attempt at gold prospecting, Henry George started working as a laborer at a rice mill, finally becoming a type setter at a weekly journal. Because he was still a minor, he received boy’s payment. In spite of that, he resolved to remain with the journal until he came of age.

On coming of age on September 2, 1860, he immediately joined Eureka Typographical Union, subsequently becoming a substitute type setter in a daily paper. Later, he returned to his weekly journal as a foreman, earning $30 a week. Unfortunately, the journal was subsequently closed and he was once again jobless.

Sometime in early 1960s, he joined ‘Evening Journal’, later becoming a partner in it. For four years, he tried to resuscitate the journal, but to no avail. In the process, he lost everything he had.

In 1865, after a period of intense struggle, he joined ‘Alta California’ as a type setter, later moving to the newly-founded ‘The Daily Dramatic Chronicle’ (later renamed as San Francisco Times). By and by, he started submitting articles, subsequently becoming a news and editorial writer.