Frederic, Harold, 1856-1898

Harold Frederic was an American writer of short stories and a newspaper editor and journalist for the New York Times.

American-English journalist and novelist.

American journalist and novelist; following bankruptcy of his "Albany Eveing Journal" became London correspondent for New York Times in 1884, and spent rest of life in Europe; Mohawk Valley the scene of much of his fiction.

American journalist and novelist; following bankrupcy of his "Albany Eveing Journal" became London correspondent for New York Times in 1884, and spent rest of life in Europe; Mohawk Valley the scene of much of his fiction.

Journalist, novelist, and playwright.

American journalist and novelist.

Frederic did not receive a divorce from his first wife, Grace Williams, and took her and their children to London. But while there, he established a relationship with Kate Forman. He maintained both households in England until he died there in 1898, and was survived by children from each. Kate became part of his social and literary world, developing a close friendship with his friends, Stephen and Cora Crane, which continued after Frederic's death.

Biographical Note

Harold Frederic (1856-1898) was an American journalist and novelist who served as the London correspondent for the New York Times .

Harold Frederic was born on August 19, 1856 in Utica, New York to Henry Frederick and Frances Ramsdell Frederick. His father, a railroad conductor, was tragically killed in a railroad accident when Harold was eighteen months old. Frederic spent his youth working on his step father's dairy farm. Around 1876, Frederic joined the Utica Daily Observer as a reporter. He worked his way up to editor and by 1882 he was asked to be editor-in-chief of the Albany Evening Journal . When the paper was sold in 1884 Frederic left for London to serve as the London correspondent of the New York Times .

Frederic married Grace Williams on October 10, 1877. Together they had two daughters, Ruth and Ruby, and three sons, Harold (d. 1887), Hereward, and Harold. In 1890, Frederic took Kate Lyon as his mistress. Since his wife, Grace, refused a divorce, Frederic began supporting two families in 1891. In addition to the five children from his marriage, Frederic had three children with Lyon. Frederic suffered a stroke in August 1898, leaving him partially paralyzed. He died October 19, 1898 at the age of 42.