Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-19
DEATH OF WIN. LAFFAN
Publisher of New York Sun
Succumbs to Appendicitis.
AUTHOR AND ART CRITIC
Began Newspaper Life as Reporter
Prior to 1872.
CLOSE OF BRILLIANT CAREER
Was Man of High Grade of Talent
in Various Lines of
Endeavor.
close OF BRILLIANT CAREER


NEW YORK. November 1a.-Niliam
NJ. Laffan. publisher of the Sun. died at
his home. Laffans House. Lawrence. l..
l.. at $50 o'clock this morning. MIR.
Laffan was operated on for appendicitis
last Monday. lie was taken i'll suddenly
and when the surgeons came they said
that quick operation was necessary.
Mr.. Laffan failed to recover from the
operation. His condition became critical
last night and death followed.
William NJ. Laffan would have been six
ty-two years old January %. 1910. He was
born in Dublin. Ireland, January q. Is4S.
His father was Michael Laffan and his
mother was Ellen Sarah Fftz Gibbon
Laffan.
He received his primary education from
tutors. and was sent from home to H.
T. Humphreys School at Blackjack. near
Kingstown. In preparation for Dublin
University he attended tor time at
French College at Booterstown. After
completing his course of studies at the
university, Mr.. Laffan studied at St.
Cecilia School of Medicine.
Manifests Interest in Art.
An interest in art manifested itself
early in his life, leading eventually to
experiences of judgment in criticism.
After completing his scholastic and COL
legiate studies, he became artist to the
Pathological Society of Dublin. He re-
manned in the Irish capital brief time
and then came to the United States.
In Baltimore Mr.. Laffan married Georgf-
anna Tompkins Radcliffe, the daughter of
Judge Daniel Radcliffe of Washington, ID.
C. The marriage occurred in Baltimore
in 1872. For some time before his mar
riaga Mr.. Laffan had been a newspaper
reporter. He became the managing edl-
tor of the San Francisco Bulletin in 1870
after which. coming across the country to
Baltimore, he became the editor and half
owner of the Baltimore Daily Bulletin
Shortly afterward he became the owner
of the Bulletin and the Sunday Bulletin.
Not all of his time in the years pre-
ceding his connection with the Sun were
given over to newspaper work. He was
Island railroad and became the general
passenger agent OF the company.
General Writer in 1877.
He came to the Sun first in 1877 as a
general writer. A considerable portion
Of his work on the Sun at that time had
had to do with art criticism. His articles
and essays on that subject were produced
from accurate and comprehensive studies.
For three years. 1881. 1852 and 1883. he
was art editor for Harper & Bros,
publishers of books and magazines. In
that period, also. he was agent for the
Harpers in London. He was elected pub
Usher of the Sun In 1854. when Charles
A. Dana was the editor and owner OF
the newspaper. Three years later he was
elected trustee of the Sun Printing and
Publishing Association. In 1887, also, Mr..
Laffan founded the Evening Sun.
Advanced to Presidency.
In 1900 he purchased the interests of
the estate of Charles A. Dana in the Sun
Printing and Publishing Association. and
become the president Of the association.
From that time until his death he con-
trolled the newspapers published by that
association.
His studies in art produced not only a
considerable number Of essays for news
paper publications. but were expressed In
a volume entitled American Wood En-
gravers," which was published by Har-
pers in 1883, and by his activities in
editing monographs and catalogues. He
edited, in 1906, Oriental Porcelain,
which was published by the Appletons.
year previously a catalogue was made OF
the Chinese porcelain in the Morgan col
lection in the Metropolitan Museum OF
Art and Mr., Laffan directed and system
atized this work. With s. w. Bushell,
c. NJ. c., he edited. In l9t. Chinese
porcelain in the Metropolitan Museum OF
Art. He was trustee of the Metropoli-
tan Museum.
Travelled Extensively.
In his vacations from newspaper direc-
ton and writing Mr.. Laffan Travelled
widely. He was familiar with Spain, Por-
tugal, Great Britain. Germany, Switzer-
land. Austria, Italy. Greece. Egypt, the
West Indies, Central America and North
America
Among his business activities outside
the Sun Printing and Publishing Com
pany, Mr.. Laffan was vice president Of
the Lanston Monotype Company. In
politics he was independent.
His clubs in this city included the Union,
the New York Yacht, the Raquet ami
Tennis. the Rockaway Hunt and the Mid
day He was a member of the Arts Club
OF London and the Chicago Club of Chi