Henry George (1839-97), a Philadelphia-born journalist, labor reformer, and anti-monopolist, began his newspaper career in 1860 as a printer and then worked as an editor for several San Francisco papers. George published Progress and Poverty, his most influential work, in 1879 and The Irish Land Question in 1881, and subsequently served in the British Isles as correspondent for the Irish World.

In 1886 he ran second as the liberal and labor candidate in a three-way contest for mayor of New York City against Theodore Roosevelt and Abram S. Hewitt (who won the election).

His supporters gave serious consideration to a presidential race in 1888, but their hopes were dashed by his disappointing showing in the 1887 campaign for secretary of state of New York. His supporters then launched the single-tax movement, based on George's tax reform theories.

George meanwhile continued his writing, edited the Standard from 1887 to 1890, undertook several speaking tours, and traveled extensively. In 1897, against medical advice, he again ran for mayor of New York City; he died four days before the election