Frank Andrew Munsey (1854-1925), American publisher, built a newspaper and magazine empire in the early 20th century.

Frank Munsey was born in Mercer, Maine, on Aug. 21, 1854, the son of poor but hardworking parents. A sober industrious boy, he went to work for the Western Union Telegraph Company. Steady and ambitious, he soon became manager of its office in Augusta, Maine. For obscure reasons, he settled upon publishing as his means to reach fortune, and in 1882 he went to New York City to publish Golden Argosy, a juvenile magazine. He helped Argosy by writing Horatio Alger-type tales, while buying, merging, and closing down other publishing properties, some distinguished, like Godey's and Peterson's.

Munsey struggled to succeed. He did not marry and did not develop any striking or individual side interests. He was dedicated to business during a period that witnessed the emergence of the popular magazine. In 1891, with Argosy...