Henry Watterson, who is responsible for the editorial policy of the
Louisville Courier-Journal, was born in Washington, D. C., February
16, 1840. He was educated by private tutors, this owing to his being
threatened with blindness. During the war he acted as staff officer in
the Confederate army. When peace was established he at once engaged
in newspaper work, and has ever since been more or less conspicuous
in the field of journalism. Elected a member of congress in 1875, he
has since, although repeatedly offered office, uniformly declined it.
He was delegate-at-large from Kentucky for six Democratic national
conventions. Mr. Watterson is not only distinguished as a journalist
and author, but he has a well-deserved reputation as an orator.
His command of the English language, allied to his general wit and
braininess, have made his editorials famous throughout the country. He
is the author of works on the Civil war and others. In 1865 he married
the daughter of the Hon. Andrew Ewing, of Tennessee.