Preceded by Hamlin R. Harding Role Publisher Name Henry Houghton Succeeded by Isaac Bradford | Occupation Publisher Education University of Vermont Alma mater University of Vermont Died August 25, 1895, Andover | |
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Born April 30, 1823
Sutton, Vermont ( 1823-04-30 ) | ||
Organizations founded Houghton Mifflin Harcourt | ||
Henry Oscar Houghton (April 30, 1823 – August 25, 1895) was an American publisher, co-founder of Houghton Mifflin, and a mayor of Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Biography
Houghton was born into a poor family in Sutton, Vermont. At age thirteen, he started working as an apprentice at The Burlington Free Press, where he became a typesetter. After graduation from the University of Vermont, he moved to Boston to work first as a reporter, then proofreader. He then joined a small Cambridge firm, Freeman & Bolles, that typeset and printed books for Little, Brown and Company. At age 25, he became a partner, and in 1849, the company was renamed Bolles and Houghton. After Bolles left, he took on full responsibility. In 1852, Houghton moved the business to beside the Charles River, renaming it the Riverside Press.
Before the Riverside Press, American books had generally been printed with poor ink on cheap paper. Houghton insisted on much higher quality; his motto was "Do it well or not at all". The result was very successful. He became the main printer for publishers Ticknor and Fields, and, in 1863, was engaged by G. & C. Merriam Company to print and bind their new dictionary.
In 1864, Houghton formed a partnership with Melancthon M. Hurd, a New York publisher. Hurd & Houghton was a quick success, and within three years, the company increased its workforce from 90 to 300 employees. George Harrison Mifflin (1845–1921) became a partner in 1872 and, when Houghton became mayor of Cambridge, Mifflin succeeded him as lead partner. In 1878, when Hurd retired, Houghton joined with James R. Osgood, formerly of Ticknor and Fields, to create Houghton, Osgood and Company. Lawson Valentine would become the third partner and provide $200,000 in fresh capital. The firm was plagued by personal debts from Osgood. The firm dissolved and in 1880 Houghton and Mifflin formed Houghton, Mifflin and Company.
Houghton died on August 25, 1895. He had one son and three daughters. In his 1891 will, he appointed daughter Elizabeth Harris Houghton "representative to nominate a patient for the free bed the testator established in the Cambridge hospital".