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George Horace Lorimer

George Horace Lorimer

An influential American editor and publisher, George Horace Lorimer shaped national culture as the long-time editor of The Saturday Evening Post.

Lived
1869–1937
Nationality
American
Language
English

George Horace Lorimer was a prominent American journalist, editor, author, and publisher who left an indelible mark on American media during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Born in 1867, Lorimer is best remembered for his transformative tenure as the editor-in-chief of The Saturday Evening Post, a position he held from 1899 until 1936. Under his visionary leadership, the publication grew from a struggling weekly with a circulation of only a few thousand into one of the most influential and widely read magazines in the United States, eventually surpassing a circulation of more than one million readers.\n\nDuring his nearly four decades at the helm of The Saturday Evening Post, Lorimer curated content that resonated deeply with American readers. He was instrumental in launching and elevating the careers of numerous literary figures, publishing works by some of the nation's most celebrated writers. Lorimer also possessed a keen eye for visual storytelling; he hired a then-unknown illustrator named Norman Rockwell to design covers for the magazine, initiating a legendary partnership that would define the publication's visual identity for decades.\n\nIn addition to his editorial achievements, Lorimer was an author in his own right and a major figure in the publishing industry. In 1932, he was appointed president of the Curtis Publishing Company, serving in this executive capacity until 1936. Lorimer passed away in 1937, leaving behind a legacy as a pioneer of modern magazine publishing who helped shape the cultural landscape of early twentieth-century America.