Lorenzo L. Latham (February 10, 1812 – December 27, 1860) was an American newspaper editor and publisher. He was a founder of Alpha Delta Phi fraternity.

Lorenzo Latham
Born
Lorenzo L. Latham

February 10, 1812
DiedDecember 27, 1860(1860-12-27) (aged 48)
Burial placeNatchez City Cemetery, Natchez, Mississippi
EducationHamilton College
Occupation(s)Newspaper editor and publisher
Known forFounding Alpha Delta Phi

Early life edit

Latham was born in Massachusetts on February 10, 1812.[1]

He attended Hamilton College in Clinton, New York.[2] During his senior year, he became a founding member of the literary fraternity, Alpha Delta Phi, along with Samuel Eells, John Curtiss Underwood, Oliver Andrew Morse, and Henry Lemuel Storrs.[3] Eells and Latham were in charge of drafting the fraternity's constitution and designing its badge.[3]

Latham graduated from Hamilton College in 1832, as his class salutatorian.[2]

Career edit

Latham became a teacher in Natchez, Mississippi.[4] He was an editor of The Creole in Charleston, South Carolina.[1] As an editor, he advocated on behalf of the American Party of South Carolina.[1]

In March 1851, Lathem and Henry E. Johnson started the Louisiana State Republican in Lafayette, Jeffeson Parish.[5][6] Lathem and Johnson co-edited and co-published the newspaper.[6] Its political slant was toward the Whig Party.[5]

In October 1851, Latham was an applicant for the position of superintendent of the New Orleans Schools.[7] He was an associate editor of the Picayune in New Orleans from 1853 to 1860.[4]

Personal life edit

Latham married Mary Barfield of Natchez, Mississippi on May 11, 1841.[8] They had two children, H. J. Latham and James Lathem.[9]

On December 27, 1860, Latham died from pneumonia at his home in Jefferson, Louisiana at the age of 48.[4][10][1] He was buried in the Natchez City Cemetery in Natchez.

Legacy edit

Alpha Delta Phi expanded into an international social and literary fraternity with more than 53,000 members.[11]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d "Correspondence of the Courier". The Charleston Daily Courier. Charleston, South Carolina. 1861-01-07. p. 2. Retrieved 2024-03-07 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b The Alpha Delta Phi, 1832-1882. Boston: Alpha Delta Phi. 1882. pp. 5 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ a b The Alpha Delta Phi, 1832-1882. Boston: Alpha Delta Phi. 1882. pp. 3–4 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ a b c The Alpha Delta Phi 1832-1882, Boston: Alpha Delta Phi. 1882. p. 7. via Google Books.
  5. ^ a b "Louisiana State Republican". Baton-Rouge Gazette. 1850-05-04. p. 2. Retrieved 2024-03-07 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b "Louisiana Republican". Natchez Daily Courier. Natchez, Mississippi. 1850-03-29. p. 2. Retrieved 2024-03-07 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Meeting of the School Board". New Orleans Weekly Delta. 1851-10-06. p. 1. Retrieved 2024-03-07 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Married". The Weekly Mississippian. Jackson, Mississippi. 1841-05-21. p. 3. Retrieved 2024-03-07 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M432; Residence Date: 1850; Home in 1850: Lafayette Ward 4, Jefferson, Louisiana; Roll: 232; Page: 194b. via Ancestry.com
  10. ^ "Death of Lorenzo L. Latham (Daily Picayune, December 28, 1860)". Imgur. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  11. ^ "Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity". Alpha Delta Phi. Retrieved 2024-03-07.