John R. McLean

John R. McLean. John Roll McLean (1848–1916) was a prominent American newspaper publisher, businessman, and political figure during the Gilded Age. He is best known for his ownership of The Washington Post and his influential role in Ohio and Washington, D.C. politics. His legacy extends into high society and the world of Thoroughbred racing, with his family remaining notable in the 20th century.

Early life and family

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, he was the son of wealthy entrepreneur and newspaperman Washington McLean, who owned the Cincinnati Enquirer. The McLean family was deeply embedded in the industrial and political fabric of the Midwestern United States. He was educated at local schools before attending Yale University, though he left before graduating to enter the family business. His early exposure to the newspaper industry and Democratic Party politics, through his father's connections, set the stage for his future career.

Business career

McLean's business career was built upon his inheritance and expansion of his father's media empire. Upon his father's death in 1890, he gained full control of the Cincinnati Enquirer and used its profits to purchase the struggling The Washington Post in 1905. Under his ownership, the Post adopted a notably sensationalist style, competing fiercely with newspapers like William Randolph Hearst's publications. His business interests were vast, including significant investments in Washington, D.C. real estate, streetcar systems in Cincinnati and Washington, D.C., and utilities, making him one of the capital's wealthiest individuals.

Political involvement

McLean was a powerful and controversial force in Democratic Party politics for decades. He served as the treasurer of the Democratic National Committee and was a close associate of figures like President Grover Cleveland. He wielded significant influence through his newspapers, notably using the Cincinnati Enquirer to support political allies. His political ambitions included a serious but unsuccessful bid for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States in 1904, where he lost to Alton B. Parker. His involvement was often shadowed by allegations of corruption, particularly related to his streetcar franchises.

Thoroughbred racing

A passionate sportsman, McLean was a major figure in American Thoroughbred racing during its heyday. He established a premier breeding and racing stable at his Glenangus Farms estate in Maryland. His silks were carried by many successful horses, most notably the champion Broomstick, who later became an influential sire. He was a founding member and president of the Havre de Grace Racetrack in Maryland and was deeply involved with the American Stud Book. His racing ventures connected him with other prominent figures of the era, including August Belmont II and James R. Keene.

Personal life and legacy

McLean married Emily Truxton Beale, daughter of General Edward F. Beale, linking him to another powerful family in Washington, D.C. society. Their children, John R. McLean, Jr. and Evalyn Walsh McLean, became famous in their own right; Evalyn was the last private owner of the Hope Diamond. He lived opulently, with homes including the famed Friendship estate. After his death in 1916, control of The Washington Post passed to his son, and later to his daughter, before being sold to financier Eugene Meyer in 1933, ending the McLean ownership era. His life epitomized the wealth, political influence, and extravagance of the Gilded Age.

Category:American newspaper publishers Category:People from Cincinnati Category:Thoroughbred horse owners and breeders