George P. (George Putnam) Upton

Born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, on October 25, 1834, he studied at Brown University and soon moved into newspaper work in Chicago. He built a long career at the Chicago Tribune, becoming its music critic in 1862 and later serving as a senior editor.

He is remembered as a journalist, author, and translator. In addition to his newspaper writing, he published numerous books and translated German literature, helping introduce many readers to music history, opera, and European writing in a clear, accessible style.

George Putnam Upton died in Chicago on May 19, 1919. His work sits at the crossroads of journalism and cultural criticism, reflecting a period when newspapers played a major role in bringing the arts to everyday readers.