The New International Encyclopædia/Medill, Joseph

MEDILL', Joseph (1823-99). An American journalist. He was born in New Brunswick, Canada, but at the age of eight removed with his parents to Massillon, Ohio. He studied law at Clinton, and was admitted to the bar in 1846, but in 1849 entered journalism, and took charge of the Coshocton Republican, a Free-Soil paper. Two years later he established the Cleveland Forest City, a Whig organ, but in 1852 united it with the Free Democrat, the new paper being called the Leader. A little later he left the Whig Party, and in 1854 was an organizer of the Republican Party in Ohio. In 1856, with two partners, he bought the Chicago Tribune. In 1870 he helped frame a new State constitution for Illinois; in 1871 was appointed a member of the first Civil Service Commission, and in 1872 was elected Mayor of Chicago. In 1874 he became chief proprietor and editor-in-chief of the Tribune, and he continued in that position until his death.