One of the most influential publishers of the 20th century, Henry Luce profoundly changed the media landscape. His involvement in politics and professional achievements have made Luce a household name in journalism. Read more about his exceptional career in the timeline below.
Henry Luce born in Tengchow (Penglai), China on April 3rd, 1898.
Luce attends Chefoo School, in Chefoo (Yantai), China, for five years.
Travels to United States from Europe.
Attends Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut.
Attends Yale University.
Receives B.A. from Yale University. Studies at Oxford; tours Europe.
Works at a reporter at the Chicago Daily News. Joins friend Briton Hadden on staff of Baltimore News; the two begin planning weekly newspaper.
Moves to New York; Luce and Hadden prepare a "news-weekly" they call Time.
Time, vol. 1, no. 1, debuts. December 23. Luce marries Lila Hotz from Chicago.
Son, Henry III, is born. Time's operations move to Cleveland.
Time returns to New York.
Son Peter Paul is born on May 18.
Hadden dies; Luce soon thereafter assumes effective ownership of Time Inc.
Fortune, vol. 1, no 1, debuts.
First "March of Time" radio program broadcast premieres.
Meets Clare Boothe Brokaw.
First "March of Time" newsreel. On October 5, he divorces Lila Luce. On November 23, marries Clare Boothe Brokaw.
Life, vol. 1, no. 1, debuts.
Essay "The American Century" appears in Life, urges American intervention in World War II. Joins Clare in Europe, witnesses beginning of German western front offensive.Luce becomes involved with Wendell Willkie campaign for president.
Clare elected to first of two terms, U.S. House of Representatives on Nov. 3rd.
Time carries essay "Struggle for Survival;" urges Americans to take offensive in "Cold War" against the Soviet Union.
Luce delivers first of many addresses urging "peace through law" on April 19th.
With his wife, Luce works for the election of Republican Dwight Eisenhower, who wins in landslide in November.
Appointed by Eisenhower, Clare Luce serves as U.S. ambassador to Italy; Luce sets up offices in Rome.
Sports Illustrated, vol. 1, no. 1, hits newsstands.
Suffers heart attack, reported as severe cold.
After a bitter encounter with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Senate confirmation of her nomination to be U.S. ambassador to Brazil, Clare Luce resigns from the Committee before assuming the position.
Luce retires as Time Inc. editor-in-chief.
Dies of heart attack in Phoenix, Arizona on February 28th.
