# William Henry Appleton > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/William_Henry_Appleton > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/William_Henry_Appleton.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Henry_Appleton > Source revision: 1356031901 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|American publisher}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2021}} {{Infobox person | name = William Henry Appleton | image = Portrait of William Henry Appleton.jpg | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1814|1|27}} | birth_place = [Haverhill, Massachusetts](/source/Haverhill%2C_Massachusetts), U.S. | death_date = {{Death date and age|1899|10|19|1814|1|27}} | death_place = [Riverdale, Bronx](/source/Riverdale%2C_Bronx), New York, U.S. | resting_place = | spouse = {{marriage|Mary Moody Worthen
|April 16, 1844|1884|reason=her death}} | partner = | children = 4 | parents = [Daniel Appleton](/source/Daniel_Appleton)
Hannah Adams | relatives = [George Swett Appleton](/source/George_Swett_Appleton) (brother)
[William Ezra Worthen](/source/William_Ezra_Worthen) (brother-in-law) | other_names = | known_for = | occupation = [Publisher](/source/Publisher) | signature = Signature of William Henry Appleton (1814–1899).png }} '''William Henry Appleton''' (January 27, 1814 – October 19, 1899) was an American publisher, eldest son and successor of [Daniel Appleton](/source/Daniel_Appleton).{{cite book|last1=Adams|first1=Andrew N.|title=A Genealogical History of Robert Adams of Newbury, Mass., and His Descendants, 1635-1900|date=2002|publisher=Heritage Books|isbn=9780788421457|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2Eh7Z12RpR8C&pg=PA302|accessdate=22 June 2017|language=en}} ==Early life== William Henry Appleton was born on January 27, 1814, at [Haverhill, Massachusetts](/source/Haverhill%2C_Massachusetts). He was the eldest of eight children born to [Daniel Appleton](/source/Daniel_Appleton) (1785–1849) and Hannah Adams (1791–1859), the daughter of John Adams and Dorcas Falkner.{{cite book|last1=Cutter|first1=William Richard|title=New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial: A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of Commonwealths and the Founding of a Nation|date=1913|publisher=Lewis Historical Publishing Company|url=https://archive.org/details/newenglandfamili01cutt_0|page=[https://archive.org/details/newenglandfamili01cutt_0/page/179 179]|accessdate=22 June 2017|language=en}} ==Career== In 1838, Appleton he joined his father as a partner in the family publishing business, [D. Appleton & Company](/source/D._Appleton_%26_Company), which he had begun clerking for in 1831 at the age of 16. In 1848, he became the senior member of D. Appleton & Company upon the retirement of his father. In partnership with his brother John Adams Appleton; they were joined in partnership by three younger brothers. In 1853, William became the firm's London representative. He was active in the struggle for an [international copyright](/source/international_copyright), and served a term as president of the American Publishers Copyright League. His firm published works by a range of noteworthy authors, including [Hall Caine](/source/Hall_Caine), [Lewis Carroll](/source/Lewis_Carroll), [Arthur Conan Doyle](/source/Arthur_Conan_Doyle), [Charles Darwin](/source/Charles_Darwin), [Thomas Henry Huxley](/source/Thomas_Henry_Huxley), [Herbert Spencer](/source/Herbert_Spencer), and [John Stuart Mill](/source/John_Stuart_Mill), as well as leading American scientists and philosophers of his era. Among the reference books brought out by him were ''[The New American Cyclopædia](/source/The_New_American_Cyclopaedia)'' (1858–63); ''Webster's Spelling Book''; ''[Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography](/source/Appletons'_Cyclop%C3%A6dia_of_American_Biography)'' (1887–1900), ''Applied Mechanics'' (1897), and an ''Annual Cyclopœdia'' (1885–1903). He wrote ''Letters on International Copyright'' (1872). ==Personal life== On April 16, 1844, he married Mary Moody Worthen (1824–1884), a daughter of Ezra Worthen and sister of [William Ezra Worthen](/source/William_Ezra_Worthen).{{cite news|title=WILLIAM E. WORTHEN DEAD.; The Well-Known Civil Engineer Succumbs to an attack of Paralysis -- His Public Services.|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1897/04/03/101102946.pdf|accessdate=23 June 2017|work=[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)|date=April 3, 1897|language=en}} * William Worthen Appleton (1845–1924),{{cite news|title=WM. W. APPLETON, PUBLISHER, DEAD; Chairman of Board of D. Appleton & Co. a Victim of Pneumonia at 78 Years. CHIEF EDITOR FOR FIRM President of Publishers' Copyright League Was a Grandson of Pioneer Daniel Appleton.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1924/01/28/archives/wm-w-appleton-publisher-dead-chairman-of-board-of-d-appleton-co-a.html|accessdate=23 June 2017|work=[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)|date=28 January 1924}} who married Anna Debois Sargent (1845–1908). * Kate Appleton (1848–1873), who married Hobart Seymour Geary (1838–1918), a merchant,{{cite news|title=A WIDE-REACHING FAILURE; DISASTER TO AN OLD-ESTABLISHED FIRM. OLYPHANT & CO., OF CHINA, MAKE AN ASSIGNMENT--A BAD VENTURE IN COOLIES--FIFTY YEARS OF SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS SUDDENLY ENDED--THE CREDITORS PROTECTED.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1878/12/08/archives/a-widereaching-failure-disaster-to-an-oldestablished-firm-olyphant.html|accessdate=23 June 2017|work=[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)|date=8 December 1878}} in 1872.{{cite news|title=DIED -- GEARY|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1873/07/27/archives/died.html|accessdate=23 June 2017|work=[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)|date=27 July 1873}} * Mary Appleton (d. 1934), who died unmarried.{{cite news|last1=Times|first1=Special To The New York|title=MISS MARY APPLETON.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1934/10/28/archives/miss-mary-appleton.html|accessdate=23 June 2017|work=[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)|date=28 October 1934}}{{cite news|title=Miss Mary Appleton|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/16211148/|accessdate=23 June 2017|work=[Newport Mercury](/source/Newport_Mercury)|date=November 2, 1934|page=3|language=en}} * Henry Cozzens Appleton (1863–1925), who married Dora Threlkeld (1847–1927).{{cite book|title=Social Register, New York|date=1902|publisher=Social Register Association|page=11|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LS8BAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA11|accessdate=23 June 2017|language=en}} Appleton was a prominent figure in publishing for a period of sixty years. He lived at [Wave Hill (New York)](/source/Wave_Hill_(New_York)); the house was later turned into a [botanical garden](/source/botanical_garden) in the [Riverdale](/source/Riverdale%2C_Bronx) section of [The Bronx](/source/The_Bronx), New York.[http://www.wavehill.org/about/history.html A Brief History of Wave Hill ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705125418/http://www.wavehill.org/about/history.html |date=July 5, 2008 }}, [Wave Hill](/source/Wave_Hill_(New_York)). Accessed May 3, 2008. He was one of the earliest members of the [Century Association](/source/Century_Association), joining in 1847, a member of the [Union Club of New York](/source/Union_Club_of_the_City_of_New_York), the Riding Club, and the Aldine and Players' Clubs. He died at his home in Riverdale on October 19, 1899.{{cite news|title=DEATH OF W.H. APPLETON; Last of the Early Founders of Publishing Houses Here. INCIDENTS IN HIS CAREER Striking Indications of His Shrewdness and Tact in Business -- His Charities and Benefactions.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1899/10/20/archives/death-of-wh-appleton-last-of-the-early-founders-of-publishing.html|accessdate=23 June 2017|work=[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)|date=20 October 1899}} He is buried in [Woodlawn Cemetery](/source/Woodlawn_Cemetery_(Bronx)) in The Bronx. ===Descendants=== His grandson, through his son William, was William Henry Appleton (1866–1951),{{cite news|last1=Times|first1=Special To The New York|title=DEATHS -- APPLETON|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1951/08/06/archives/obituary-4-no-title.html|accessdate=23 June 2017|work=[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)|date=6 August 1951}}{{cite news|last1=Times|first1=Special To The New York|title=WILLIAM H. APPLETON, YACHTSMAN, WAS 85|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1951/08/05/archives/william-h-appleton-yachtsman-was-85.html|accessdate=23 June 2017|work=[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)|date=5 August 1951}} a prominent yachtsman who married Noel Johnston, granddaughter of [John Taylor Johnston](/source/John_Taylor_Johnston), former president of the [Central Railroad of New Jersey](/source/Central_Railroad_of_New_Jersey) and the founding president of [The Metropolitan Museum of Art](/source/The_Metropolitan_Museum_of_Art).{{cite news|title=W. H. APPLETON AND NOEL JOHNSTON WED; Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Johnston a Bride in Her Washington Square Home. THE WEDDING ATTENDANTS Little Flower Girl and Page in Costumes Copied from Romney Portraits -- The Guests.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1915/04/15/archives/w-h-appleton-and-noel-johnston-wed-daughter-of-mr-and-mrs-j-h.html|accessdate=23 June 2017|work=[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)|date=15 April 1915}} ===Legacy=== [Appleton City, Missouri](/source/Appleton_City%2C_Missouri), was named after the publisher, in appreciation of his 1870 donation to the town's library.{{cite book|last1=Wolfe|first1=Gerard R.|title=The House of Appleton|url=https://archive.org/details/houseofappletonh0000wolf|url-access=registration|date=1981|publisher=The Scarecrow Press|location=Metuchen, N.J.|pages=[https://archive.org/details/houseofappletonh0000wolf/page/166 166–167]|isbn=978-0-8108-1432-5 }} ==In popular culture== Appleton is a character in the [time travel](/source/time_travel) novel ''[The Plot to Save Socrates](/source/The_Plot_to_Save_Socrates)'' by [Paul Levinson](/source/Paul_Levinson). As depicted in the book, Appleton had an extensive secret life as a time-traveler, had visited [Classical Greece](/source/Classical_Greece) and met in person some of the famous ancient Greek writers and philosophers whose works he published, and also several times visited the 21st century – but always found his own 19th century milieu to be the most congenial. ==References== ;Notes {{Reflist|30em}} ;Sources *{{NIE|wstitle=Appleton, William Henry|year=1905 }} == External links == * {{cite BDA1906 |wstitle= Appleton, William Henry |volume= 1 |page= 132-133 |short=}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Appleton, William Henry}} Category:1814 births Category:1899 deaths William Henry Category:American book publishers (people) Category:People from Haverhill, Massachusetts Category:People from Riverdale, Bronx Category:19th-century American publishers (people) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [William Henry Appleton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Henry_Appleton) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Henry_Appleton?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.