William Randolph Hearst

William Randolph Hearst c. 1906, by James E. Purdy, Library of Congress’s Prints and Photographs division

Date of Birth: April 29, 1863

Place of Birth: San Francisco, California, U.S.

Date of Death: August 14, 1951

Place of Death: Beverly Hills, California, U.S.

Ethnicity: Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, English, Scottish, some German, distant French and Irish

William Randolph Hearst was an American businessperson, newspaper publisher, and politician. He built the U.S.’s largest newspaper chain and media company, Hearst Communications. He changed the history of American journalism. As a member of the Democratic Party, he served as a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York, from March 4, 1903 to March 4, 1907.

He was a candidate for the Democratic Party’s nomination for President of the United States in 1904.

William was the son of Phoebe Hearst (born Phoebe Elizabeth Apperson) and George Hearst. His parents were originally from Missouri. His father was a millionaire businessperson, mining engineer, and politician, who, as a Democrat, was a U.S. Senator from California, from March 23, 1886 to August 4, 1886, and again, from March 4, 1887 to February 28, 1891. His mother was a philanthropist, feminist, and suffragist.

William was married to vaudeville entertainer Millicent Hearst, with whom he had five children, including media executive George Randolph Hearst, businessperson and newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst, Jr., business executive John Randolph Hearst, and businessperson Randolph Apperson Hearst. Socialite, actress, and radio comedian Patricia Lake was also possibly William’s daughter with his long time romantic partner, actress and producer Marion Davies.

Among William’s other descendants are Patty Hearst, his granddaughter, and actress and model Lydia Hearst, his great-granddaughter.

William’s paternal grandfather was William George Hearst (the son of John or George Hearst and Martha Carson). William was born in South Carolina, to Northern Irish parents, with roots in Ballybay, County Monaghan, and in Scotland. John was the son of John Hearst and Elizabeth Knox. Martha was the daughter of William A. Carson and Margaret E. Mills.

William’s paternal grandmother was Elizabeth Collins (the daughter of Jacob Collins and Lucy Hendricks or Martha Wheat). Elizabeth was born in South Carolina.

William’s maternal grandfather was Randolph Walker Apperson (the son of John Apperson and Alice Nancy/Alcey Favor). Randolph was born in Virginia. John was the son of Frances/Francis Apperson/Epperson and Mary Elizabeth “Betty” Long. Alice was the daughter of John/William Favor and Ann Covington.

William’s maternal grandmother was Drusilla/Drucilla Clark Whitmire (the daughter of Henry Whitmire and Ruth Hill). Drusilla was born in South Carolina. Henry was the son of George Frederick/Fredrick Whitmire, who was born in Enzweihingen, Neckarkreis, Württemberg, Germany, and of Sarah Phoebe Haygood. Ruth was the daughter of Henry Hill and Alice Ridgely.

Sources: Genealogies of William Randolph Hearst – https://www.geni.com
http://www.findagrave.com