James O. Clephane
James O. Clephane | |
---|---|
Englewood, NJ , US | |
Occupation(s) | Inventor, court reporter, venture capitalist |
Spouse |
Pauline Medina Harrison
(m. 1867) |
Children |
|
Parent(s) | James Clephane and Anne Ogilvie |
Relatives | Lewis Clephane (sibling) |
James Ogilvie Clephane (February 21, 1842
Early days
James O. Clephane was born in
James O. Clephane was a highly competent
On April 3, 1868, Clephane
While a court reporter, he began to seek easier ways to
Clephane would eventually move his family from their downtown
Typewriter
There were many patents for "writing machines" throughout the 19th century,
When Sholes and his business associate
Mechanical typesetting
Although the typewriter would go into commercial production only in 1873, Clephane recognised that it would solve part of his problems, as notes could now be transcribed quickly, but it would still take long to
It produced print by lithography, which was problematic. Clephane made the suggestion of using stereography instead, and Mergenthaler began to research this approach, for which Clephane provided financial backing.[20] By 1879, it was still in development. Mergenthaler designed a line casting machine, but then tore up the plans in frustration. Clephane encouraged him to continue; he remained confident in the value of the invention despite all the scepticism and financial embarrassments that accompanied it.
By 1883, the machine was perfected and patented in 1884. Meanwhile, Clephane had formed the National Typographic Company for manufacturing it, with a capitalization of $1 million and named Mergenthaler as manager of its Baltimore factory. The company became the
Clephane remained a Director of Mergenthaler Linotype Company until October 1910 when he was succeeded by Norman Dodge.[22]
Family History and Reputation
The Clephane family was prominent among elites in Washington, D.C. James O. Clephane's brother [1]—Lewis Clephane—was named Postmaster of District by Abraham Lincoln, tapped for a senior role at the United States Department of the Treasury by Salmon P. Chase, and occupied an influential role in Washington's high political society. James O. Clephane and Lewis maintained close relations with President Lincoln and his family.[23] Lewis Clephane is also credited with founding the Republican Party and early abolitionist efforts amid majority pro-slavery elites in Washington.[24] Further, Lewis Clephane went on to be the publisher of pro-Lincoln newspaper, The National Republican (newspaper). He would eventually build a mansion at the corner of 13th Street Northwest and K Street (Washington, D.C.) Northwest.
The Clephane family can be traced back to the family's noble roots, with their initial settlement in what is now Scotland directly after the Norman Conquest. Between 1200 and the Battle of Battle of Bannockburn, the Clephanes acquired lands of Castle of Carslogie, which became their primary seat.[25] They constructed the castle in 1590, and the ruins of the castle still bear the date's inscription.[26] The castle was handed through generations until 1804, when Major General William McLean Douglas Clephane sold the castle and barony lands prior to passing away.[7] It is now called Carslogie House.
James Ogilvie Clephane's father, James Clephane Sr., is known to have been close with
James Clephane Sr. emigrated to America in 1817,
James O. Clephane was known to be a superb typist, and worked as a stenographer for high courts in Washington, D.C., as well as in Abraham Lincoln's cabinet. He would also go on to pass the Bar examination, but would remain a stenographer despite earning a law degree. It was in his work with courts and the President that Clephane discovered the inefficiencies of type-writing, specifically the tediousness of duplicating transcripts, as was required.
J.O. Clephane served as the lead civic marshal in the procession through Washington, D.C. following Assassination of Abraham Lincoln alongside Col. B. B. French. The procession had an estimated 18,000 participants and 150,000 spectators.[27]
Lewis Clephane would remain in Washington, D.C., as a key figure in the city's upper echelon, and becoming a co-founder of Metropolitan Club of Washington, D.C.[28] His son, Walter Clephane, would remain prominent and lived in Chevy Chase (Washington, D.C.).
In the late 19th century, James Ogilvie Clephane relocated to the
Other
Besides the typewriter and the linotype machine, he was also involved in the development of the graphophone and served on the board of directors of Columbia Records, making "one of the leading phonographers of the country".[6] In addition, he was also a director in the Locke Steel Belt Company, the Linomatrix Machine Company, the National Typographic Company, the Aurora Mining Company, the Horton Basket Machine Company, the Fowler-Henkle Printing Press Company, the Oddur Machine Company, in several of which he was the president.[1] He also published some travel literature.
His role in surprisingly many inventions is explained by Roger Burlingame:[30]
Clephane [...] was intent upon his problem. He was constantly stretching out his antennae for new ideas. It is not surprising that such a man should provide a center for gadget-fanciers. It is more so that this center, once established, became such a magnet for investors. Perhaps it was the great idea which drew the support. There was much, to be sure, in the persuasive personality of Clephane—a personality to which Mr. Dale Carnegie might well point. But all the subterfuges practiced today in the winning of friends and the influencing of people would have availed Clephane little without his dynamic, irrepressible faith. He had a kind of Napoleonic power that seemed to go with his little stature. Men flocked about him and he led them forward toward the avatar. If any faltered, Clephane would kick him back on his feet. He was harsh, merciless, dominant when the idea was before him.
He suffered a
References
- ^ a b c Men and Women of America: A Biographical Dictionary of Contemporaries, New York: L.R. Hamersly & Company, 1909
- ^ a b c d e "JAMES O. CLEPHANE DEAD.; Development of Linotype Machine Largely Due to His Efforts.", The New York Times, p. 11, December 1, 1910
- ^ "The Invention of the Linotype Machine (Jienne Alhaideri '13) - From Tablet to Tablet: A History of the Book". sites.google.com. Retrieved 2022-06-08.
- .
- ^ Records - Columbia Historical Society of Washington, D.C., Columbia Historical Society, 1918
- ^ a b "DEATH OF JAMES CLEPHANE.; An Aged Resident and the Oldest Typographer in Washington", The Washington Post, December 2, 1880
- ^ a b "Home". ClanCentral. Retrieved 2022-06-08.
- ^ a b "Literary Notes", The New York Times, p. 3, June 28, 1880
- ^ Brown, Rick, An Overview of the History of the Linotype Machine, archived from the original on 2009-02-20, retrieved 2009-01-06
- The Evening Star, p. 10
- ^ Trial of Andrew Johnson, President of the United States, vol. 1, Washington: Government Printing Office, 1868
- ^ Extracts from the Journal of the United States Senate In All Cases of Impeachment Presented By The United States House of Representatives (1798-1904). Congressional serial set. Washington Government Printing Office. 1912. p. 244.
- ^ "The Impeachment Trial". Spirit Of Jefferson at Newspapers.com. April 7, 1868. Retrieved 22 July 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Ridpath, John Clark, ed. (1899), The Standard American Encyclopedia of Arts, Sciences, History, Biography, Geography, Statistics, and General Knowledge, vol. 7, New York: The Standard American Publishing Company, p. 2572
- ISBN 0-911160-87-6Reprinted by Post-era Books, Arcadia, CA, 1985.
- ^ ISBN 0-8486-0344-3
- ProQuest 197240126.
- ISSN 1097-9190
- ^ "Linotype at 50", Time, July 13, 1936, archived from the original on December 15, 2008, retrieved 2009-01-07
- ISBN 978-0-471-44998-0, retrieved 2009-01-07
- ^ Spear, Michael (August 15, 1996), The Linotype Machine: Thomas Edison called it the "Eighth Wonder of the World", archived from the original on January 9, 2009, retrieved 2009-01-07
- ^ "Boston Stock Market: Financial Notes.", The New York Times, October 20, 1910, retrieved 2009-01-07
- ^ "Abraham Lincoln Letter Signed Signed to Samuel Chase | Raab Collection". The Raab Collection. 10 May 1861. Retrieved 2022-06-08.
- ^ JSTOR 40067107.
- ^ Sweet, Andy. "Carslogie House | Castle in Cupar parish, Fife | Stravaiging around Scotland". www.stravaiging.com. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
- ^ "Carslogie House | Canmore". canmore.org.uk. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
- JSTOR 40067199.
- JSTOR 40067230.
- .
- ISBN 9780405076763, retrieved 2009-01-15
- ^ "MRS. JAMES O. CLEPHANE.", The New York Times, p. 21, February 1, 1935