325px William Jennings Demorest (aka W. Jennings Demorest) (1822–1895), from New York City, was an American magazine publisher, national prohibition leader, and, in collaboration with his second wife, Ellen Demorest, née Curtis, attained international success from his wife's development of paper patterns for sewing fashion apparel of the day. Together, they built a fashion manufacturing and merchandising empire from it. He and his wife launched five magazines and started a cosmetics company. He individually patented a sewing machine and a

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. Demorest harbored lifelong political and religious aspirations. He is widely known for being a Prohibition activist and ran for Mayor of New York City on the Prohibition ticket. He also organized the Anti-Nuisance League.The National Statesman (Prohibition Party newsletter, discontinued 2003), p.4., December 2003.

Town named for Demorest

Magazines

* 1860: ''Mme Demorest's Mirror of Fashions'' was first published as a quarterly :* Summer 1863 — ''Mirror of Fashions'' became a monthly :* January 1864 — Demorest purchased ''New York Illustrated News'' :* September 1864 — Demorest combined ''New York Illustrated News'' with the ''Mirror of Fashions'' :* January 1879 — Changed the name to ''Demorest Family Magazine'' :* October 1899 — Final publication of ''Demorest Family Magazine'' * Demorest Monthly Magazine, The * Demorest's Illustrated News * Demorest's Illustrated Monthly Magazine : In 1873, Demorest joined the printing firm of Little, Rennie & Co. (founded in 1867 by Joseph James Little). In 1876, the firm became known as J.J. Little & Company.

Location of operations

* Demorest Studio Building — 4 & 6 W 14th St

Political party affiliations

* Prohibition Party (New York City) —

Marriages

# In 1845, Demorest married Margaret Willamina Poole (1823–1857), daughter of Joseph and Jeannette Poole. While living on

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, they had two children: (i) Vienna Willamina Demorest (1847-?) and Henry Clay Demorest (1850–1928). # On April 15, 1858, Demorest married Ellen Louise Curtis (1825–1898) — a fashion arbiter.

Other Interests

In 1881 he published the song
Sweet Wind of Eve
by Henry Tucker.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Demorest, William Jennings 1822 births 1895 deaths Fashion journalism American temperance activists New York (state) Prohibitionists Businesspeople from New York City Activists from New York (state) 19th-century American businesspeople