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Orson Desaix Munn (June 11, 1824 – February 28, 1907) was the publisher of ''
Orson Desaix Munn was born on June 11, 1824, in 
In 1876 the demand upon its space was so great, owing to the increased interest that resulted from the
Scientific American
''Scientific American'', informally abbreviated ''SciAm'' or sometimes ''SA'', is an American popular science magazine. Many famous scientists, including Albert Einstein and Nikola Tesla, have contributed articles to it. In print since 1845, it i ...
''.
Biography
Orson Desaix Munn was born on June 11, 1824, in Monson, Massachusetts
Monson is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 8,150 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.
The census-designated place of Monson Center lies at the ...
. He received his education at the academy in his native town, and, deciding on a business career, went to work for a bookstore in Springfield
Springfield may refer to:
* Springfield (toponym), the place name in general
Places and locations Australia
* Springfield, New South Wales (Central Coast)
* Springfield, New South Wales (Snowy Monaro Regional Council)
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. After two years of this experience, he returned to accept a more important commercial trust in Monson, but soon found his way to New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
.
He took over the publishing operations of Munn & Company, a New York patent firm, with Salem Howe Wales and Alfred Ely Beach
Alfred Ely Beach (September 1, 1826 – January 1, 1896) was an American inventor, publisher, and patent lawyer, born in Springfield, Massachusetts. He is most known for his design of New York City's earliest subway predecessor, the Beach Pne ...
as editor.
With Beach, he bought the six-month-old ''Scientific American
''Scientific American'', informally abbreviated ''SciAm'' or sometimes ''SA'', is an American popular science magazine. Many famous scientists, including Albert Einstein and Nikola Tesla, have contributed articles to it. In print since 1845, it i ...
'' magazine from Rufus Porter Rufus Porter may refer to:
*Rufus Porter (painter)
Rufus Porter (May 1, 1792 – August 13, 1884) was an American painter, inventor, and founder of '' Scientific American'' magazine.
Famous family
Rufus Porter descended from an old coloni ...
. The purchase price of this property was less than $1,000, and it included a subscription list of 200 names. Porter continued as editor, and the enterprise, placed on a sound business basis, at once proved a success. It was the first popular scientific journal in the United States, and it is now the oldest, having a recognized standing throughout the civilized world. Its function has been the publication of the record of the progress of art and science both at home and abroad.
In 1876 the demand upon its space was so great, owing to the increased interest that resulted from the Centennial Exposition
The Centennial International Exhibition of 1876, the first official World's Fair to be held in the United States, was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from May 10 to November 10, 1876, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the signing of the ...
, that a ''Scientific American Supplement'' was started. An architect and builders edition, published monthly, was established in 1885; ''Scientific American Building Monthly'' was renamed ''American Homes and Gardens'' magazine in July 1905.
Among the earliest requests made to the publishers of the ''Scientific American'' was for advice concerning the procuring of letters-patent for new inventions, there being at that time no professional patent solicitors. This department of the business developed with great rapidity, and a branch office for it was soon opened in Washington, D.C.
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, image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...
For many years Munn & Co. enjoyed a virtual monopoly of this class of business, and upward of 100,000 applications for patents were made by this house. Munn strictly adhered to a principle never to invest a penny in any patented invention.
In August 1849, Munn married Julia Augusta Allen. They had two sons, Henry Norcross Munn and Charles Allen Munn.
Munn died on 28 February 1907, and was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery.
References
External links
* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Munn, Orson Desaix 1824 births 1907 deaths Scientific American people American publishers (people) People from Monson, Massachusetts 19th-century American businesspeople