Biography

William Orton was a publisher referenced in Clarence A. Seward's letter of December 27, 1855 to William Henry Seward, and appeared in the context of two other publishers, Norman C. Miller and Eugene Mulligan. He worked at the bookstore of George Derby and Co. for a time after graduating from the State normal school, and shortly thereafter became a partner. The company changed hands to James C. Derby after George's death and became insolvent, which pushed Orton to other work. He became involved in Republican politics, was a collector of internal revenue, the president of the US telegraph company, became vice president of the subsequent consolidation with the Western Union telegraph company, and eventually rose to be the president, a position he held until his death.