Henry Oscar Houghton

Biography

Henry Oscar Houghton, born in 1823, built a publishing enterprise that would become Houghton Mifflin, insisting on the highest standards of craftsmanship while nurturing authors and educators. He believed books should not only inform but also uplift, and he championed new talents as well as the classic works of literature.

He is remembered for the care with which he produced works of lasting value, for his forward-thinking business practices, and for the charitable encouragement he extended to schools and libraries.