Edwin Leland James

{{Short description|American journalist & war correspondent (1890-1951)}}

{{Infobox person

|birthname = Edward Leland James

|birth_date = {{birth date|1890|6|25|mf=y}}

|birth_place = Irvington, Virginia, U.S.

|death_date = {{death date and age|1951|12|3|1890|6|25|mf=y}}

|death_place = New York City, New York

|education = Randolph–Macon College

|years_active = 1910–1951

|spouse = Simone James (née Tremoulet)

|occupation = {{unbulleted list|Journalist|War correspondent}}

}}

Edwin Leland James (June 25, 1890 – December 3, 1951) was an American journalist and war correspondent who covered World War I and served as the chief European correspondent for The New York Times after the war. He worked as the paper's managing editor from 1932 until his death, during which time he continued to cover international affairs.

James was born in Irvington, Virginia in 1890. He received a bachelor's degree from Randolph–Macon College in 1909. From 1910 to 1912 he worked as a reporter for The Baltimore Sun, and went on to join the Pittsburgh Dispatch as an assistant news editor. In 1915 he joined The New York Times as a copy editor and quickly became a reporter. He was appointed as the Paris correspondent and covered the war in Europe.{{cite news|title = Edwin L. James Dies at 61; The Times' Managing Editor; Won Fame as Correspondent|newspaper = The New York Times|date = December 4, 1951|url = http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F70A1FFC3A591A7B93C6A91789D95F458585F9|accessdate=January 10, 2017}}{{cite news|last1=James|first1=Edwin L.|title=Americans Drive Germans Back Over Marne: Take 1,000 Prisoners and Check Big Drive: German Attack on a 60-Mile Front Fails|url=https://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/big/0715.html|accessdate=10 January 2017|work=The New York Times|date=16 July 1918}}

After the war he worked as the Times' chief European correspondent and reported from across the continent. He covered the rise of fascism in Italy and conducted several interviews with Benito Mussolini.{{cite book|last1=Diggins|first1=John Patrick|title=Mussolini and Fascism: The View from America|date=1972|publisher=Princeton University Press|location=Princeton|isbn=1400868068|page=24|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sWB9BgAAQBAJ&pg=PA24|accessdate=10 January 2017}} In 1932 he became managing editor and expanded the New York Times International Edition.{{cite news|title = Edwin L. James Dies at 61; The Times' Managing Editor; Won Fame as Correspondent|newspaper = The New York Times|date = December 4, 1951|url = http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F70A1FFC3A591A7B93C6A91789D95F458585F9|accessdate=January 10, 2017}}

He was the first cousin of Russell Baker's mother.{{cite news|last = Just|first = Ward|title = Still Growing Up: A Reporter's Journey|newspaper = The New York Times|date = May 28, 1989|url = https://www.nytimes.com/books/99/05/02/specials/just-baker.html|accessdate = January 10, 2017}} A book review.