Samuel Hopkins Adams

American journalist, writer, and muckraker Samuel Hopkins Adams was born in Dunkirk, New York, on January 26, 1871. During the Progressive Era, Adams-who was renowned for his powerful investigative journalism made important contributions to literary and social reform. As a journalist, Adams first worked for the New York Sun and other publications. His investigative works uncovered injustice and corruption, especially in the patent medicine and pharmaceutical industries. A group of essays he...See more

American journalist, writer, and muckraker Samuel Hopkins Adams was born in Dunkirk, New York, on January 26, 1871. During the Progressive Era, Adams-who was renowned for his powerful investigative journalism made important contributions to literary and social reform. As a journalist, Adams first worked for the New York Sun and other publications. His investigative works uncovered injustice and corruption, especially in the patent medicine and pharmaceutical industries. A group of essays he wrote that ultimately resulted in the Pure Food and Drug Act's enactment in 1906 are among his most significant contributions. In addition to his work as a journalist, Adams was a prolific writer of novels, short tales, and non-fiction books. Apart from "The Flying Death," Adams's other well-known books include "Average Jones" and "Revelry," which demonstrate his flexibility as a writer. In addition to being a gifted storyteller, Samuel Hopkins Adams was a fervent supporter of social change. His influential literary and journalistic works have left a long-lasting legacy, supporting the era's larger campaigns for consumer protection, public health, and social justice. See less