Daniels, Josephus, 1862-1948

Josephus Daniels, son of Josephus and Mary (Cleves) Daniels, was born in Washington, North Carolina, May 18, 1862. He attended the Wilson Collegiate Institute. On May 2, 1888, he married Addie W. Bagley. At the age of eighteen, he was editor of the "Wilson Advance"; admitted to the bar in 1885; state printer for North Carolina, 1887-1893; chief clerk, Department of the Interior, 1893-1895; editor of the "Raleigh State Chronicle", 1885; editor of the "Raleigh State News and Observer", 1894-1919; Secretary of the Navy, 1913-1921; member, Democratic National Executive Committee, 1896-1919; and author of several books, including his memoirs. He served as ambassador to Mexico, 1933-1941. (from Who's Who in Am., 1944-45) (blue index cards)

Josephus Daniels was Secretary of the Navy, 1913-1921.

Josephus Daniels, a North Carolinian, was editor of the Raleigh News and Observer before becoming interested in politics. From 1913-1921, he was Secretary of the Navy, and he served as ambassador to Mexico from 1933-42.

Newspaper editor, Secretary of the Navy (1913-1921), Ambassador to Mexico (1933-1942), and member of the Watauga Club, Josephus Daniels was an alumnus of the University of North Carolina law school. He was influential in publishing in the Raleigh area and published several newspapers including the State Chronicle and the North Carolinian, as well as the News and Observer.

Josephus Daniels was the Secretary of the Navy from 1913 to 1921 in President Wilson's cabinet. He is noted for establishing trades for the enlisted men and hence bringing about efficiency in the military. Daniels was born in Washington, N.C. in 1862 and died in Raleigh, N.C. in 1948.

Politician and newspaper publisher, of North Carolina; served as Secretary of the Navy during World War I.

Secretary of the Navy, Ambassador to Mexico, Newspaper Editor.

Josephus Daniels was editor and publisher of the Raleigh News and Observer, Secretary of the Navy (1913-1921), Ambassador to Mexico (1933-1942), and member of the Watauga Club. He was an alumnus of the University of North Carolina law school. Daniels was influential in publishing in the Raleigh area and published several newspapers including the State Chronicle and the North Carolinian, as well as the News and Observer .

Josephus Daniels was the owner and editor of the Raleigh "News and Observer"; secretary of the Navy in the administration of Woodrow Wilson, 1913-1921; and U.S. ambassador to Mexico in the administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1933-1941.

Secretary of the U.S. Navy.

U.S. Secretary of the Navy.

Diplomat, journalist, and U.S. secretary of the navy.

Daniels was Secretary of the Navy, 1913-1921.

Josephus Daniels was a United States Secretary of the Navy, Ambassador to Mexico, and editor of the Raleigh, North Carolina newspaper "News and Observer."

Newspaper editor, lawyer, Southern liberal, and politician who never ran for office, Josephus Daniels was born in Washington, N.C., in 1862. He started his career as newspaper editor in 1880 at the Wilson Advance in Wilson, N.C. After attending the University of North Carolina, Daniels passed the state bar examinations in 1885, but never actually practiced law. In 1891, he assumed editorial control of the Raleigh News and Observer.

An ardent, life long Democrat, Daniels was appointed Democratic national committeeman from North Carolina in 1896 and held that post until 1916. Woodrow Wilson appointed him secretary of the Navy in 1912. Daniels was one of four cabinet members who served throughout Wilson's two terms. In 1921, Daniels returned to the Raleigh News and Observer. He supported Franklin D. Roosevelt in the election of 1932. Roosevelt, who had served as assistant secretary of the Navy under Daniels from 1913 to 1921, always called his former boss chief, and, in 1933, appointed him ambassador to Mexico. Daniels helped to implement Roosevelt's good neighbor policy for eight years, resigning in 1941 to resume his editorial duties in Raleigh. He continued to write editorials for the News and Observer almost until his death in 1948.

A devoted family man throughout his life, Daniels married Adelaide Worth Bagley (1869-1943) in 1888. They had six children. Two daughters died in infancy. Four sons survived: Josephus (1894-1964), Worth Bagley (born 1899), Jonathan Worth (1902-1981), and Frank Arthur (1904-1986). For more information see the Dictionary of North Carolina Biography, edited by William S. Powell. See also Subseries 2.1.

Biographical Note