William Randolph Hearst
Born 1863 · Age 162
American newspaper publisher and politician who built Hearst Communications, pioneered sensational "yellow journalism," expanded into magazines, film and radio, pursued political office, amassed vast real-estate and art holdings (Hearst Castle), and suffered heavy financial losses during the Great Depression.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in San Francisco, California
William Randolph Hearst born to George Hearst and Phoebe Apperson Hearst in San Francisco.
Tour of Europe with his mother
At about age 10 Hearst and his mother toured Europe; early exposure to castles, art and architecture that later inspired Hearst Castle.
Enrolled at St. Paul's Preparatory School
Entered St. Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire for preparatory education.
Admitted to Harvard College
Began attending Harvard; involved with Harvard Lampoon, Hasty Pudding and theatrical groups.
Expelled from Harvard
Expelled from Harvard after antics and misconduct (beer parties, pranks).
Took control of the San Francisco Examiner
Given control of the struggling San Francisco Examiner (entered publishing business) and partnered with Mitchell Trubitt.
Hired prominent writers for the Examiner
Recruited talents including Ambrose Bierce, Mark Twain, Jack London and cartoonist Homer Davenport to the Examiner.
Death of his father George Hearst
George Hearst, William's father, died (he had served as U.S. Senator 1887–1891); family wealth passed to Phoebe and supported William's expansion.
Purchased the New York Morning Journal
Bought the failing New York Morning Journal (financial support of his widowed mother) and entered a fierce circulation war in New York.
Raided Joseph Pulitzer's staff and expanded Journal
Hired Richard F. Outcault and other top staff from the New York World; helped create the 'yellow journalism' rivalry.
Journal's post-election sales topped 1.5 million
A year after purchasing the Journal, the post-election issue (evening and other editions) sold over 1.5 million copies.
Supported William Jennings Bryan
The Journal supported populist Democrat William Jennings Bryan in the 1896 election.
Escalating circulation war with the New York World
Continuing head-to-head competition with Joseph Pulitzer's New York World characterized by bold headlines and sensational stories.
Truce with New York World and Journal becomes profitable
Late 1898 the Journal and the World declared a truce after heavy losses covering the Spanish–American War; Journal began turning a profit.
Spanish–American War coverage; sailed to Cuba
The Journal sensationalized Spanish atrocities and Hearst sailed to Cuba with reporters and portable printing equipment to cover the war.
Journal circulation exceed one million after the Maine sinking
Following the sinking of the USS Maine, the Morning Journal's daily circulation routinely climbed above one million.
Elected to U.S. House of Representatives (election year)
Won election to Congress representing New York (term began March 4, 1903).
Began Congressional term (NY 11th district)
Took office as a U.S. Representative (term Mar 4, 1903–Mar 3, 1907).
Married Millicent Willson
Married 21-year-old Millicent Veronica Willson in New York City.
Reelected to Congress and sought Democratic presidential nomination
Reelected to the U.S. House (1904); ran (unsuccessfully) for the 1904 Democratic presidential nomination.
Narrowly lost New York City mayoral race
Ran for mayor of New York City in 1905 (with support from Municipal Ownership League previously formed); narrowly defeated.
Lost New York gubernatorial race to Charles Evans Hughes
Ran for Governor of New York in 1906 and was defeated by Charles Evans Hughes.
Founded International News Service (INS)
Established the International News Service in 1909 (newswire service for Hearst papers).
Lost second NYC mayoral bid
Again ran for mayor of New York City (1909) and was defeated.
First experience of flight
Flew in January 1910 in Los Angeles with French aviator Louis Paulhan in a Farman biplane.
Founded International Film Service
Created an animation studio, International Film Service, to exploit comic-strip properties (1915).
Entered comic-strip syndication business (International Film Service & King Features roots)
Created animation and syndication vehicles to capitalize on comic-strip properties, pioneering comic syndication and film adaptations.
Beginning of long relationship with Marion Davies
Began a relationship with actress Marion Davies; from ~1919 they lived openly together in California.
Began construction of Hearst Castle at San Simeon
Started building the large hilltop estate later known as Hearst Castle; architect Julia Morgan collaborated for decades.
Death of Phoebe Apperson Hearst; inheritance support for expansions
His mother Phoebe Hearst died (estate and support aided William's San Simeon projects and media expansion).
Established Arabian horse-breeding and large estate operations at San Simeon
Developed extensive grounds, gardens, and an Arabian horse-breeding operation at the San Simeon ranch surrounding Hearst Castle.
Expanded into magazines, syndication, radio and film
Diversified holdings included magazines (Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, Harper's Bazaar), King Features Syndicate, film (Cosmopolitan Productions) and radio stations (WINS).
Produced motion pictures and newsreels
Owned Cosmopolitan Productions and Hearst Metrotone News; produced over 100 films and newsreels featuring Marion Davies and others.
Owned thousands of acres in California and Mexico
Through purchases and inheritance, Hearst built a land empire (hundreds of thousands of acres including San Simeon, ranches and timber/mine interests).
Purchased Little Sur River property
Bought 1,445 acres along the Little Sur River from a tanning company for about $50,000 (Nov 18, 1921).
Purchased Rancho San Miguelito de Trinidad & Rancho El Piojo
Acquired large Californian ranch holdings in 1923 to enlarge the San Simeon estate.
Launched the New York Daily Mirror
Opened the tabloid New York Daily Mirror (1924), modeled after the New York Daily News.
Bought St Donat's Castle in Wales
Purchased and extensively renovated St Donat's Castle as a gift to Marion Davies; imported entire rooms and antiques.
Piedmont Land & Cattle Company bought Rancho Milpitas and Rancho Los Ojitos
Hearst's company expanded San Simeon holdings in 1925 through purchases of large ranch tracts.
Nationwide chain of newspapers reached ~28 titles
By the mid-1920s Hearst had a chain numbering about 28 newspapers in major U.S. cities and multiple magazines.
Hearst news empire revenue peak around 1928
Business reached peak revenues about 1928 before the economic collapse; owned dozens of newspapers and magazines.
Sponsored Graf Zeppelin round-the-world voyage
Sponsored the 1929 LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin trip with condition it start at Lakehurst; helped send reporters and photographer.
Supported Franklin D. Roosevelt (initially)
Became a leading supporter of FDR in 1932; used influence over delegations to affect the 1932 Democratic ticket.
Published reports on Ukrainian famine in Hearst papers
Hearst newspapers reprinted eyewitness accounts (Gareth Jones, Fred Beal) about the Holodomor to oppose rapprochement with the Soviet Union.
Visited Berlin; interviewed Adolf Hitler
Traveled to Germany in 1934, interviewed Hitler and directed favorable coverage of Nazi Germany in his papers (controversial).
Peak publication circulation (mid-1930s)
Hearst publications reached a peak circulation of about 20 million readers per day in the mid-1930s.
Broke with FDR and opposed New Deal policies
After initial support, Hearst publicly broke with Roosevelt in 1935 over New Deal policies, Patman Bonus veto and international court issues.
Sold art and antiquities to relieve debts (first year $11M)
Began selling parts of his vast art collection to pay creditors; first year sales totaled about $11 million (1937).
Court-mandated reorganization of Hearst Corporation
Unable to service debts in the Depression, Hearst Corporation faced reorganization in 1937; Hearst was reduced to employee status.
Sold 158,000 acres for Fort Hunter Liggett
Sold 158,000 acres (including Rancho Milpitas) to the U.S. government on Dec 12, 1940 to create a military reservation.
Put ~20,000 art items up for sale
In 1941 Hearst offered approximately 20,000 items from his collection for sale to relieve financial strain.
Life inspired the film Citizen Kane (1941)
Orson Welles' 1941 film Citizen Kane used Hearst's life as the primary inspiration for Charles Foster Kane.
Column praising Hitler after invasion of USSR
On June 23, 1941 Hearst wrote a column calling Hitler the 'saviour of Europe' and expressed hope for anti-Communist unity (controversial).
Purchased Beverly Hills mansion
Paid $120,000 in 1947 for an H-shaped Beverly Hills mansion (Beverly House) on roughly 3.7 acres.
Sold Little Sur River property to Boy Scouts
On July 23, 1948 the Monterey Bay Area Council of the Boy Scouts purchased 1,445 acres from Hearst Sunical Land and Packing Company for $20,000.
Hearst Foundation grant to offset Boy Scouts purchase
Albert M. Lester obtained a $20,000 grant from Hearst through the Hearst Foundation (Sept 9, 1948) to offset the council's purchase cost.
Died in Beverly Hills
William Randolph Hearst died on August 14, 1951 in Beverly Hills, California and was interred at Cypress Lawn Memorial Park.
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