The Washington herald., 1909-11-20

/ New York. Nov. 19.-William NJ. Lafan,
proprietor Of the New York sun. died
to-day at his home in Lawrence. Long
Island. He was taken IN last Sunday
afternoon with appendicitis. An opera
ton was performed on Monday, from
which he did not rally.
The funeral and interment viii be
private.
! Mr.. Laffan was the proprietor Of the Sun
and It's publisher for twenty years, and
was identified with the work OF that
newspaper thirty-two years. He founded
the Evening Sun in 1857. and remained in
active direction Of both the sun and the
/ Evening sun until his death.
I lie was a cOnnOisseur in art. and ap-
/ piled expertness Of judgment in criticism.
He would have been sixty-two years
old II he had lived until January ., 1910
| Mr. Laffan was born in 1S4S. In Dublin,
! Ireland There were two sisters and a
brother, all Of whom are liying-M. r.
Lanan, Of this city; Mrs. Walter Noel
Hartley and Mrs. Morier. of London.
Studied Medicine.
/ He received his preliminary education
at home from tutors, and was sent
afterward to II. r. Humphreys school
at Black Rock. near KingstOwn He
/ prepared for Dublin University at French
! College, Booterstown After leaving
Trinity College OF the university he
studied medicine at St. CecIlia's School
OF Medicine
He went 10 San Francisco IN 1858 and
went 20 work as a reporter. He was the
first city editor OF the san Francisco
/ Chronicle which was established in 1858.
From San Francisco he went to Balti-
more early in 1870. and worked as a re-
/ porter and editor until he became the
editor and half owner Of the Baltimore
Daily Bulletin. Subsequently he acquired
/ full ownership Of the Bulletin and the
! Sunday Bulletin While in Baltimore
MIR. Laffan married. in 1872. Georgianna
Z Radcliffe. daughter Of Judge Daniel Rad
clife. OF Washington. D. c.
He left newspaper work for while
to become general passenger agent OF the
/ Long Island Railroad In 1871 he first
/ became connected with the Sun as a
I general writer. and IN 1881 he became art
editor Tor Harper & Bros. and remained
/ in that capacity and as their agent IN
/ London for three years.
Intimate Friend of Dana.
In 1854 he was elected publisher Of the
/ Sun. He started the Evening Sun in
J 1851 He had been the intimate friend
and associate Of Charles A. Dana. IN
/ 1900 he purchased from the Dana estate
/ it's interest in the Sun. and was elected
president OF the Sun Printing and Pub
/ fishing Company
Outside OF journalism his work as a
/ lover and student or art occupied most
I OF his time. He modelled IN clay. painted
+ In oils and water colors. and etched FOR
/ his own entertainment and that Of his
/ friends. As a trustee OF the Meuopoli-
tan Museum OF Art and a member OF its
committee on acquisition Mr.. Lsftan went
abroad frequently searching for objects
worth while
! He was especially interested in Orien-
/ tai porcelaIns. He edited the Catalogue
Of the Chinese Porcelain in the Morgan
! Collection at the Metropolitan Museum OF
1 Art in 1875. With s. W. Bushnell, c. N
IG.. he edited Chinese Porcelains in the
I Metropolitan Museum OF Art" which ap-
peared IN 1906 IN the same year Mr.
Laffan edited Oriental Porcelain which
was published by the ApDletons. He had
written American Wood Engravers, %
which was published by the Harpers n
! 1883
In politics he was independent
his home in the city was at S35 Lex
I ington avenue.