William Emory Quinby (December 14, 1835 – June 7, 1908) was an American newspaper publisher and diplomat who served as United States Ambassador to the Netherlands.

William E. Quinby
United States Ambassador to the Netherlands
In office
1893–1897
PresidentGrover Cleveland
Preceded bySamuel R. Thayer
Succeeded byStanford Newel
Personal details
Born
William Emory Quinby

(1835-12-14)December 14, 1835
Brewer, Maine, U.S.
DiedJune 7, 1908(1908-06-07) (aged 72)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Political partyDemocrat
Alma materUniversity of Michigan
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Early life

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Quinby was born in Brewer, Maine, on December 14, 1835. His family moved to Detroit in 1850, where his father Daniel F. Quinby published a magazine, The Literary Miscellany. William Quinby attended Gregory's Business College in Detroit before transferring to the University of Michigan, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1858. He then studied law, attained admission to the bar and practiced in Detroit for two years. In 1861 he received a Master of Arts degree from the University of Michigan.[1]

Career

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Deciding to abandon law for journalism, in 1861 Quinby became a reporter for the Detroit Free Press. By 1872 he had purchased the majority of stock in the paper and advanced to editor-in-chief.[2]

Active in politics as a Democrat, in 1893 President Grover Cleveland nominated him as Ambassador to the Netherlands, where he served until 1897.[3][4]

In 1896 the University of Michigan awarded him the honorary degree of LL.D. In 1900, Quinby wrote a letter for the Detroit Century Box time capsule.[5]

Personal life

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He retired in 1906 and died in Detroit on June 7, 1908.[6][7][8]

References

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  1. ^ University Magazine Company, Biography, William Emory Quinby, 1892, p. 515.
  2. ^ John Howard Brown, Lamb's Biographical Dictionary of the United States, Volume 6, 1903, p. 385.
  3. ^ New York Times, Minister to the Netherlands; William E. Quinby of the detroit Free Press Appointed, May 26, 1893.
  4. ^ Rossiter Johnson, John Howard Brown, The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, 1904, Quinby-Quincy.
  5. ^ "Progress of Journalism in the Last Century". Detroit Historical Society.
  6. ^ Detroit Free Press, Retirement: William E. Quinby, December 30, 1906.
  7. ^ University of Michigan Alumni Association, University of Michigan Alumnus magazine, Volume 14, 1908, p. 489.
  8. ^ New England Genealogical Historical Society, The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume 62, 1908, p. 394.
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by U.S. Minister to the Netherlands
1893–1897
Succeeded by