Guide Note

William Randolph Hearst was an American media magnate. Hearst was a leading newspaper publisher and the son of self-made millionaire George Hearst. Upon becoming aware that his father had received a northern California newspaper, The San Francisco Examiner, as payment of a gambling debt, he asked his father to give him the newspaper to run. Even though he was still a student at Harvard, in 1887, he became the paper's publisher.

Fast Facts

1. Born: April 29, 1863 in San Francisco, California
2. Died: August 14, 1951 in Beverly Hills, California
3. Attended St. Paul's School
4. Was expelled from Harvard University
5. Had an ongoing affair with Marion Davies
6. Mythbuster: He was not responsible for the Spanish American War
7. Accused of fabricating newspaper stories and using sensationalism
8. Was the grandfather of Patty Hearst
9. Citizen Kane was based on his life
10. Had to declare bankruptcy during the stock market crash
11. Children: George Randolph Hearst , William Randolph Hearst Jr., John Randolph Hearst, and twins Randolph Apperson Hearst and David Whitmire Hearst

Famous For

1. After Hearst moved to New York City, he acquired The New York Journal. Acquiring more newspapers, Hearst acquired more newspapers and, ultimately created a chain that at its peak numbered nearly 30 newspapers in major American cities. Eventually, he expanded into magazines as well, building the largest newspaper and magazine chain in the world.
2. He was elected two times to the United States House of Representatives