William Conant Church

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William Conant Church (1836-1917) was an American journalist and soldier.

He was born in Rochester, New York, and educated in the Boston Latin School. While still a youth he engaged with his father in editing and publishing the New York Chronicle.

In 1860 he became publisher of the New York Sun and in 1861 - 1862 was Washington correspondent of the New York Times.

He resigned his journalistic position on his appointment as captain in the United States Volunteers in 1862, and served for one year, receiving brevets of major and lieutenant colonel.

In 1863, he established the Army and Navy Journal, jointly with his brother, and in 1866 they founded the Galaxy Magazine.

He and George Wood Wingate established the National Rifle Association in 1871, and in 1872 he replaced its first president, the retired general Ambrose Burnside.

Church was government commissioner to inspect the Northern Pacific Railroad in 1882.

He wrote two biographies, of John Ericsson in 1891, and Ulysses S. Grant in 1899.

Church was also one of the founders of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, an original member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion, and became a life member and director of the New York Zoölogical Society.

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• This article incorporates text from an edition of the New International Encyclopedia that is in the public domain.