Dana, Charles A.

Charles A. (1819-1897), an eminent American journalist. He received his education at Harvard. He became a member of the famous Brook Farm Community, and was associated with George Ripley and Parke Godwin in the editorship of the Harbinger. In 1847 he was made managing editor of the New York Tribune, a position which he held up to the time of the Civil War. In the meanwhile he colabored with Ripley in projecting and editing Appleton's American Encyclopedia in sixteen volumes. During the Civil War he was for a time assistant secretary of war. His was a busy, useful life, but he is remembered chiefly as editor of the New York Sun from 1868 onward. He belongs to the group of noted New York editors, including Greeley and Bryant. His editorials were noted for brilliancy; but toward the end he fell into a bitter partisan, pessimistic vein, seeming to think the world going wholly wrong. He failed on that account to retain his influence.