Charles Anderson Dana (8 August 1819-17 October 1897), editor and journalist, was born at Hinsdale, New Hampshire. His mother died when he was nine and, after staying three years with relatives in Vermont, Dana went to Buffalo, New York, as a clerk in his uncle's store. There he taught himself the Seneca Indian language and Latin, and independently pursued literary studies. These stood him in good stead when his uncle's business fell victim to the Panic of 1837 and he was forced to look elsewhere for a living. With the eventual goal of attending Harvard, Dana founded a literary society in Buffalo, and within two years had saved about two hundred dollars from it. With this money and high hopes, he set off for Cambridge.

Entering Harvard in 1839, Dana worked hard to stay in school. Though he ranked safely in the top fifth of his class, his money slowly gave out...