E. Alexander Powell
Encyclopedia
E. Alexander Powell was an American war correspondent
during World War I
and author. He generally published material under the name E. Alexander Powell; his full name was Edward Alexander Powell.
Powell was born in Syracuse, New York
in 1879. From 1898-1899 he worked for the Syracuse Journal
, and in 1902 he became editor of Craftsman. From 1903-1904 he was an advertising manager for the Smith Premier Typewriter Company
, based in London, England, and in 1905-1906 he worked in the Near East
as a correspondent for British and American publications. From 1906-1909 he was a Consular official in Syria and Egypt.
Powell worked as a war correspondent during World War I and his position as a neutral allowed him access to both sides of the battle lines, from 1914 onwards. With the entry of the United States into the Great War in 1917, Powell was commissioned as a captain in military intelligence. He was injured in September 1918, and convalesced until the Armistice in November of that year, thereafter returning to the US. He left the US Armed Services with the rank of Major. Powell published his war journalism in newspapers and magazines such as The War Illustrated
, New York World
and the Daily Mail
and his war books were published by Charles Scribner's Sons
.
Powell then switched from journalism to a successful career as an adventure and travel writer, traveling widely across the globe and publishing some 20 more books between 1920 and 1954.
Powell married Jessie Northrup Powell. He died at Falls Village, Connecticut
in 1957. His papers are held in the US Library of Congress
.
War correspondent
A war correspondent is a journalist who covers stories firsthand from a war zone. In the 19th century they were also called Special Correspondents.-Methods:...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and author. He generally published material under the name E. Alexander Powell; his full name was Edward Alexander Powell.
Powell was born in Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
in 1879. From 1898-1899 he worked for the Syracuse Journal
Syracuse Herald-Journal
The Syracuse Herald-Journal was an evening newspaper in Syracuse, New York, with roots going back to 1839 when it was named the Western State Journal. The final issue — volume 124, number 37,500 — was published on September 29, 2001...
, and in 1902 he became editor of Craftsman. From 1903-1904 he was an advertising manager for the Smith Premier Typewriter Company
Smith Corona
Smith Corona or the SCM Corporation is a US typewriter and calculator company. Once a large U.S. manufacturer, the company experienced sales declines in typewriters in the mid-1980s due to the introduction of PC-based word processing...
, based in London, England, and in 1905-1906 he worked in the Near East
Near East
The Near East is a geographical term that covers different countries for geographers, archeologists, and historians, on the one hand, and for political scientists, economists, and journalists, on the other...
as a correspondent for British and American publications. From 1906-1909 he was a Consular official in Syria and Egypt.
Powell worked as a war correspondent during World War I and his position as a neutral allowed him access to both sides of the battle lines, from 1914 onwards. With the entry of the United States into the Great War in 1917, Powell was commissioned as a captain in military intelligence. He was injured in September 1918, and convalesced until the Armistice in November of that year, thereafter returning to the US. He left the US Armed Services with the rank of Major. Powell published his war journalism in newspapers and magazines such as The War Illustrated
The War Illustrated
The War Illustrated was a British war magazine published in London by William Berry . It was first released on 22 August 1914, eighteen days after the United Kingdom declared war on Germany, and regular issues continued throughout World War I...
, New York World
New York World
The New York World was a newspaper published in New York City from 1860 until 1931. The paper played a major role in the history of American newspapers...
and the Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
and his war books were published by Charles Scribner's Sons
Charles Scribner's Sons
Charles Scribner's Sons, or simply Scribner, is an American publisher based in New York City, known for publishing a number of American authors including Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Kurt Vonnegut, Stephen King, Robert A. Heinlein, Thomas Wolfe, George Santayana, John Clellon...
.
Powell then switched from journalism to a successful career as an adventure and travel writer, traveling widely across the globe and publishing some 20 more books between 1920 and 1954.
Powell married Jessie Northrup Powell. He died at Falls Village, Connecticut
Falls Village, Connecticut
Falls Village is a village and census-designated place in the town of Canaan, Connecticut. Because Falls Village is the town center and principal constituent village in Canaan, the entire town is often referred to as "Falls Village." That usage also avoids confusion of the town with Canaan Village...
in 1957. His papers are held in the US Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
.
External links
- Online biography
- Some of his travel and adventure books
- 'That Contemptible Little Army' by E. Alexander Powell. The British Army Seen by an American Journalist in 1916