Ray Stannard Baker

Date of Birth: April 17, 1870

Zodiac Sign: Aries

Date of Death: July 12, 1946

Biography

Ray Stannard Baker, also known by his pen name David Grayson, was a prominent American journalist and author who played a significant role in the muckraking movement during the early 20th century. Born on April 17, 1870, in Lansing, Michigan, Baker graduated from Michigan State Agricultural College in 1889 and later studied law at the University of Michigan. However, his passion for writing led him to a career in journalism rather than law. Baker started his journalism career with the Chicago News-Record and then joined the McClure’s Magazine, where he became known for his investigative journalism. He wrote extensively on social issues, including labor conditions, poverty, and race relations. His work, alongside other muckrakers, helped to expose corruption and promote progressive reforms. In 1908, Baker began writing under the pseudonym David Grayson, creating a series of essays and stories celebrating rural American life, which gained significant popularity. His “Adventures in Contentment” series was particularly well-received. Baker’s literary and journalistic achievements were recognized when he was appointed as the official biographer of President Woodrow Wilson, a task that culminated in an eight-volume biography. For his work on the biography, Baker was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Biography in 1940.

5 Interesting Facts about Ray Stannard Baker

1. Ray Stannard Baker was a key figure in the muckraking movement, which sought to expose social injustices and corruption in the early 20th century.

2. He wrote under the pseudonym David Grayson, creating a series of essays that romanticized rural life and were highly popular.

3. Baker won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography in 1940 for his comprehensive biography of President Woodrow Wilson.

4. He was a founding member of the American Magazine, which aimed to provide a platform for investigative journalism and progressive ideas.

5. Baker served as a mediator during the Great Steel Strike of 1919, highlighting his involvement in labor issues beyond journalism.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Ray Stannard Baker

1. “The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out for himself.”

2. “We cannot have a healthy democracy unless we have a free and vigorous press.”

3. “There is no excellence without labor. One cannot dream oneself into either usefulness or happiness.”

4. “The secret of happiness is to admire without desiring.”

5. “The man who has ceased to fear has ceased to care.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Ray Stannard Baker’s highest net worth is not precisely documented, but as a successful author and journalist, he would have been relatively well-off for his time.