ABSTRACT
American inventor and record industry executive, born in Washington, D.C. As secretary to Samuel Seward, U.S. secretary of state, he became interested in office machines and contributed to the invention of the typewriter, the first of which was built for the use of his staff. Later he and Ottmar Mergenthaler began the development of the linotype machine, revolutionizing printing technology. Impressed with a demonstration of the Graphophone, he-with Andrew Devine and John H. White-entered into a marketing agreement with Volta Graphophone Co. on 28 Mar 1887, in effect establishing the American Graphophone Co.
