Newspaper Publisher, Civil War Figure, Presidential Cabinet Secretary. As a reporter for the "New York Tribune" he gained nationwide fame in the 1840s when he filed widely reprinted stories from Europe on several revolutionary movements. From 1849 to 1862 he was managing editor, resigning over personality conflicts with editor Horace Greeley. Dana was then hired by the United States War Department to investigate Civil War battlefield conditions. He uncovered numerous frauds by contractors and quartermasters and also provided Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton and President Abraham Lincoln reports on the conduct of several generals, allaying concerns that General Ulysses S. Grant was ineffective because of alcoholism. Dana stayed with General Grant through the Battle of Chattanooga and successfully urged Abraham Lincoln to name Grant commander of all Union armies. Dana was Assistant Secretary of War from 1864 to 1865, aiding in the management of the department at the close of the war. In 1866 he founded the "Chicago Republican", remaining with this newspaper until becoming part owner of the "New York Sun" in 1868. The "Sun' became influential nationwide under Dana's leadership, opposing the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson and supporting Grant for President. Dana later turned against Grant over corruption in his administration, supporting Democrats and occasional third-party candidates. He was also a noted author, and his works included "The Art of Newspaper Making" and "Reminiscences of the Civil War."
Newspaper Publisher, Civil War Figure, Presidential Cabinet Secretary. As a reporter for the "New York Tribune" he gained nationwide fame in the 1840s when he filed widely reprinted stories from Europe on several revolutionary movements. From 1849 to 1862 he was managing editor, resigning over personality conflicts with editor Horace Greeley. Dana was then hired by the United States War Department to investigate Civil War battlefield conditions. He uncovered numerous frauds by contractors and quartermasters and also provided Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton and President Abraham Lincoln reports on the conduct of several generals, allaying concerns that General Ulysses S. Grant was ineffective because of alcoholism. Dana stayed with General Grant through the Battle of Chattanooga and successfully urged Abraham Lincoln to name Grant commander of all Union armies. Dana was Assistant Secretary of War from 1864 to 1865, aiding in the management of the department at the close of the war. In 1866 he founded the "Chicago Republican", remaining with this newspaper until becoming part owner of the "New York Sun" in 1868. The "Sun' became influential nationwide under Dana's leadership, opposing the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson and supporting Grant for President. Dana later turned against Grant over corruption in his administration, supporting Democrats and occasional third-party candidates. He was also a noted author, and his works included "The Art of Newspaper Making" and "Reminiscences of the Civil War."
Bio by: Bill McKern
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