Francis Avery Mallison (March 13, 1832 – June 22, 1877) was an American journalist, editor and public servant. A longtime reporter for the Brooklyn Eagle, known under his pen name Francis O'Pake, he and then city editor Joseph Howard, Jr. were responsible for publishing a forged document to manipulate the price of gold on the New York Stock Exchange resulting in the "Great Civil War Gold Hoax".
Francis Mallison was born in Rome, New York to a Methodist family from Connecticut. His father was a local schoolteacher. He attended the Oneida Conference Seminary, the Polytechnic School at Chittenango and the Seminary at Lowville. Mallison received common school training and began contributing to the Rome Sentinel shortly after leaving school. Mallison also traveled to the western United States in 1849 and the southern United States in 1851–1852, studying the culture and economic issues in these areas. He also worked as a telegraph operator in Central New York.[1]
EditingEdit
He eventually gained editorial control of the Rome Sentinel and remained editor until he moved to Brooklyn in November 1859, whereupon he took a position at the City News. He became acquainted with many prominent New Yorkers while on the paper and, upon its reorganization, joined the Brooklyn Eagle. Mallison eventually became city editor of the Brooklyn Eagle himself, but was forced to retire due to poor health. However, his position gained him valuable political connections and he was admitted to the bar in December 1866. He was a member of the New York State Assembly (Kings Co., 4th D.) in 1868. He remained in journalism as a political correspondent while a member of the Legislature and resumed it on a full-time basis after the end of his term.[1] In 1870, he was appointed Deputy Clerk of the Brooklyn City Court and held the position until September 1875.
ControversyEdit
While Mallison was with the Brooklyn Eagle, he and city editor Joseph Howard, Jr. conspired to forge a document, under the guise of an Associated Press dispatch, which claimed that President Abraham Lincoln was calling for 400,000 men to be conscripted into the Union Army. The news of the draft caused the stock market to crash, while the price of gold went up. Mallison and Howard made a large profit, but detectives managed to track down Mallison two days after the document had been published. He implicated Howard in the deception, and the two were arrested. Mallison was held as a prisoner of war at Fort Lafayette for six months before his release on September 23, 1864.[1][2]
Retirement and deathEdit
Retiring to private life, he traveled to South America for his health and remained abroad for four months. Upon his return, he lived at his Myrtle Avenue home until his death from jaundice on the morning of June 22, 1877.[2]
ReferencesEdit
^ abcHarlow, S.R.; Hutchins, S.C. (1868). Life Sketches of State Officers, Senators and Members of the Assembly of the State of New York in 1868. Albany: Weed, Parsons & Company. pp. 291–293.
^ ab"Death of F.A. Mallison" (PDF). New York Times. June 23, 1877.
Further readingEdit
Mott, Frank Luther. American Journalism: A History, 1690-1960. New York: Macmillan, 1962.
Starr, Louis Morris. Bohemian Brigade: Civil War Newsmen in Action. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1954.
Wert, Jeffrey D. "The Great Civil War Gold Hoax". American History Illustrated 1980 15(1): 20–24.
francis, mallison, francis, avery, mallison, march, 1832, june, 1877, american, journalist, editor, public, servant, longtime, reporter, brooklyn, eagle, known, under, name, francis, pake, then, city, editor, joseph, howard, were, responsible, publishing, forg. Francis Avery Mallison March 13 1832 June 22 1877 was an American journalist editor and public servant A longtime reporter for the Brooklyn Eagle known under his pen name Francis O Pake he and then city editor Joseph Howard Jr were responsible for publishing a forged document to manipulate the price of gold on the New York Stock Exchange resulting in the Great Civil War Gold Hoax Francis Avery MallisonBorn 1832 03 13 March 13 1832Rome New York United StatesDiedJune 22 1877 1877 06 22 aged 45 Brooklyn New York United StatesOther namesFrancis O PakeOccupationJournalistKnown forLongtime reporter for the Brooklyn Eagle he and editor Joseph Howard Jr organized the Great Civil War Gold Hoax Political partyDemocrat Contents 1 Early life 2 Editing 3 Controversy 4 Retirement and death 5 References 6 Further readingEarly life EditFrancis Mallison was born in Rome New York to a Methodist family from Connecticut His father was a local schoolteacher He attended the Oneida Conference Seminary the Polytechnic School at Chittenango and the Seminary at Lowville Mallison received common school training and began contributing to the Rome Sentinel shortly after leaving school Mallison also traveled to the western United States in 1849 and the southern United States in 1851 1852 studying the culture and economic issues in these areas He also worked as a telegraph operator in Central New York 1 Editing EditHe eventually gained editorial control of the Rome Sentinel and remained editor until he moved to Brooklyn in November 1859 whereupon he took a position at the City News He became acquainted with many prominent New Yorkers while on the paper and upon its reorganization joined the Brooklyn Eagle Mallison eventually became city editor of the Brooklyn Eagle himself but was forced to retire due to poor health However his position gained him valuable political connections and he was admitted to the bar in December 1866 He was a member of the New York State Assembly Kings Co 4th D in 1868 He remained in journalism as a political correspondent while a member of the Legislature and resumed it on a full time basis after the end of his term 1 In 1870 he was appointed Deputy Clerk of the Brooklyn City Court and held the position until September 1875 Controversy EditWhile Mallison was with the Brooklyn Eagle he and city editor Joseph Howard Jr conspired to forge a document under the guise of an Associated Press dispatch which claimed that President Abraham Lincoln was calling for 400 000 men to be conscripted into the Union Army The news of the draft caused the stock market to crash while the price of gold went up Mallison and Howard made a large profit but detectives managed to track down Mallison two days after the document had been published He implicated Howard in the deception and the two were arrested Mallison was held as a prisoner of war at Fort Lafayette for six months before his release on September 23 1864 1 2 Retirement and death EditRetiring to private life he traveled to South America for his health and remained abroad for four months Upon his return he lived at his Myrtle Avenue home until his death from jaundice on the morning of June 22 1877 2 References Edit a b c Harlow S R Hutchins S C 1868 Life Sketches of State Officers Senators and Members of the Assembly of the State of New York in 1868 Albany Weed Parsons amp Company pp 291 293 a b Death of F A Mallison PDF New York Times June 23 1877 Further reading EditMott Frank Luther American Journalism A History 1690 1960 New York Macmillan 1962 Starr Louis Morris Bohemian Brigade Civil War Newsmen in Action New York Alfred A Knopf 1954 Wert Jeffrey D The Great Civil War Gold Hoax American History Illustrated 1980 15 1 20 24 New York State AssemblyPreceded byCaleb F Buckley New York State Assembly Kings County 5th District1867 Succeeded byJames R Allaben Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Francis A Mallison amp oldid 1171112225, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
