Nellie Bly
Born 1864 · Age 161
American investigative journalist, pioneer of undercover and stunt reporting; famed for Ten Days in a Mad-House and a record-setting around-the-world trip in 72 days; later an industrialist and inventor.
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Life & Career Timeline
Birth of Elizabeth Jane Cochran (Nellie Bly)
Born in Cochran's Mills (Burrell Township), Armstrong County, Pennsylvania.
Death of father Michael Cochran
Father Michael Cochran died suddenly and without a will; family lost estate and moved away from Cochran's Mill.
Enrolled at Indiana Normal School
Entered Indiana Normal School (now Indiana University of Pennsylvania); added an 'e' to surname becoming Elizabeth Cochrane; left after one term due to financial difficulties.
Family moves to Allegheny City (Pittsburgh area)
Mother moved the family to Allegheny City (later annexed to Pittsburgh); Nellie and her mother ran a boarding house.
Early investigative pieces for Dispatch
Wrote 'The Girl Puzzle' and 'Mad Marriages' and did undercover reporting in a copper cable factory to expose poor working conditions for women and children.
Letter to the Pittsburgh Dispatch ('What Girls Are Good For' response)
Wrote a fiery rebuttal to an editorial promoting restrictive roles for women; published under a pseudonym which led to job offer.
Hired by the Pittsburgh Dispatch as a reporter
George Madden hired her after seeing her pieces; she adopted the pen name 'Nellie Bly' (editor misspelled it) and was paid $5 per week.
Foreign correspondent assignment in Mexico
Traveled to Mexico for nearly six months reporting on government corruption and culture; forced to flee after criticizing Porfirio Díaz's government.
Moved to New York City and joined the New York World
Left the Pittsburgh Dispatch; after months of difficulty in NYC, gained entry to Joseph Pulitzer's New York World and accepted an investigative assignment.
Published book 'Ten Days in a Mad-House'
Series compiled and published as a book (1887); the exposé prompted a grand-jury investigation and public reforms for asylum conditions and funding.
Asylum exposé prompts legal & institutional reforms
Bly's reporting helped spur a grand-jury investigation led by NY Assistant DA Vernon M. Davis and resulted in increased funding, new physician appointments, and regulatory changes in NYC institutions.
Published 'Ten Days in a Mad-House' series
After feigning insanity and being committed to the Women's Lunatic Asylum on Blackwell's (Roosevelt) Island, Bly published a six-part exposé in the New York World beginning Oct 9, 1887.
Proposed around-the-world trip to editor
Suggested to New York World editor that she attempt to beat Phileas Fogg's fictional 80-day record; editor eventually greenlit the idea the following year.
Published 'Six Months in Mexico'
Collected dispatches from her time in Mexico into a book published in 1888.
Began serial fiction work for New York Family Story Paper
Took a lucrative job writing serialized novels; first chapter of 'Eva The Adventuress' published before she returned to New York.
Competitor Elizabeth Bisland begins rival circumnavigation
Cosmopolitan magazine sent Elizabeth Bisland on a competing around-the-world trip in the opposite direction; journalists followed the 'race.'
Novel: 'Eva The Adventuress' (serial)
Serialized novel published in 1889 in Munro's New York Family Story Paper.
New York World provided travel funds (£200 + US cash)
The World gave Bly British coins/notes equivalent to £200 and additional American money to support her journey and reporting.
Departed Hoboken for around-the-world trip (Augusta Victoria)
Set sail from Hoboken/N.Y. on the German steamer SS Augusta Victoria at 9:40 a.m. to attempt to circumnavigate the globe in under 80 days.
Met Jules Verne in Amiens, France
Visited Jules Verne during the around-the-world voyage; Verne had authored Around the World in Eighty Days, Bly's inspiration.
Published 'Nellie Bly's Book: Around the World in Seventy-two Days'
Account of the 1889–1890 voyage compiled and published (1890); cemented international fame.
Record surpassed by George Francis Train
Her 72-day record stood only a few months before businessman George Francis Train completed a circumnavigation in 67 days (1890).
Novel: 'New York By Night' (serial)
One of the serialized novels Bly wrote; year recorded as 1890.
Completed circumnavigation in 72 days (record)
Arrived back in New York after 72 days, 6 hours, 11 minutes and 14 seconds—widely reported worldwide; The World ran daily updates and a guessing contest (~1 million entries).
Novels: 'Alta Lynn, M.D.' and 'Wayne's Faithful Sweetheart' (serial)
Published serialized fiction works as part of her stint writing for story papers.
Novels: 'Little Luckie, or Playing For Hearts' and 'Dolly The Coquette' (serial)
Continued prolific output of serialized fiction (1889–1895 total of ~11–12 novels).
Returned to reporting for the New York World
Resumed investigative reporting and wrote pieces including interviews and features (also interviewed alleged serial killer Lizzie Halliday in 1893).
Covered Jacob Coxey's Army march and the Pullman Strike
Reported on major labor protests of 1894, including Coxey's Army in Washington, D.C., and the Pullman strike in Chicago.
Marriage to Robert Seaman
Married industrialist Robert Seaman (significantly older; sources give him roughly 40+ years older). Bly largely retired from journalism after marriage and assumed married name Elizabeth Cochrane Seaman.
Operated Iron Clad with employee benefits
As company head Bly implemented progressive employee welfare programs (gyms, libraries, health care) while managing manufacturing operations.
Patents issued under married name (approx.)
Bly is recorded as the recipient of U.S. patent 697,553 (improved milk can) and U.S. patent 703,711 (stacking garbage can) under Elizabeth Cochrane Seaman. (Patent numbers cited in sources; exact issue years are not specified in all sources—year here is an estimate.)
Iron Clad begins producing 55‑gallon steel oil drum
Iron Clad began manufacturing the steel barrel that evolved into the standard 55-gallon oil drum used widely in the U.S.; there was subsequent dispute over invention credit.
Death of husband Robert Seaman; Bly takes helm of Iron Clad Manufacturing Co.
Robert Seaman died (sources vary between 1903–1904); Nellie Bly assumed control of Iron Clad Manufacturing Company and American Steel Barrel Company.
Covered the Woman Suffrage Procession (Washington, D.C.)
Reported on the 1913 suffrage parade for the New York Evening Journal; headline read 'Suffragists Are Men's Superiors' and she predicted U.S. women's suffrage would be achieved by 1920.
Covered World War I from Europe
Returned to journalism to report on World War I, including reporting on the Eastern Front and wartime conditions affecting women and civilians.
Arrested in Europe, mistaken for a British spy (released)
Arrested while reporting in wartime Europe (Austro-Hungarian zone), later identified and released; reported in U.S. press in 1915.
Returned to newspaper work at New York Evening Journal
Rejoined journalism full time in 1920, covering topics including the growing women's suffrage movement and other major news.
Death from pneumonia
Died at St. Mark's Hospital in New York City on January 27, 1922; interred at Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx.
Broadway musical 'Nellie Bly' opened
Subject of a Broadway musical by Johnny Burke and Jimmy Van Heusen; the show ran briefly (16 performances).
Film 'The Adventures of Nellie Bly' released
Feature film depicting Bly's life released in 1981.
Inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame
Posthumous recognition honoring Bly's contributions to journalism and women's history.
Featured on a U.S. postage stamp ('Women in Journalism' set)
United States Postal Service honored Bly as one of four journalists on a 2002 stamp set celebrating women in journalism.
Film '10 Days in a Madhouse' released
Feature film based on Bly's undercover asylum exposé released in 2015.
Google Doodle honoring Nellie Bly
Google produced an interactive Doodle celebrating Bly's birthday (May 5, 2015) featuring original music and animation.
Animated short 'Nellie Bly Makes the News' released
The Center for Investigative Reporting released a short animated biographical film about Bly's life and reporting.
Lifetime movie 'Escaping the Madhouse' (TV) released
Lifetime Network released a biopic TV movie dramatizing Bly's asylum undercover investigation starring Christina Ricci and Judith Light.
Winning proposal announced for Nellie Bly monument on Roosevelt Island
Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation announced Amanda Matthews' 'The Girl Puzzle' as the selected memorial honoring Nellie Bly.
Discovery of long‑lost serialized novels
Author David Blixt announced discovery (March 2021) of 11 long-lost serialized novels by Bly in Munro's British weekly The London Story Paper—works thought lost since publication 1889–1895.
Doctor Who audio drama adaptation featuring Nellie Bly story released
Big Finish Productions released 'The Perils of Nellie Bly' audio drama (part of a box set) on Sept 8, 2021.
The Girl Puzzle monument opened to the public
Monument honoring Nellie Bly (Amanda Matthews) opened on Roosevelt Island in December 2021.
Key Achievement Ages
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