Elbert Hubbard was a renowned American publisher, artist, and philosopher, who was born in Bloomington, Illinois in 1856. He was born to Silas Hubbard, a medical doctor who had moved to the small town just a year before Hubbard was born. However, Hubbard's father never really settled down in Bloomington as he could not find work there, given that there were too many established medics in the area.
Hubbard is best known as an American writer, publisher, artist, and philosopher. He was an influential exponent of the Arts and Crafts movement and is perhaps most famous for his essay "A Message to Garcia." Hubbard also edited a magazine called Fra, for which he was known as Fra Elbert Green. His contributions to literature and the arts have left a lasting impact, and his work continues to be studied and admired today.
Hubbard's early years were spent in Hudson, Illinois, where he attended school and showed a particular aptitude for public speaking. After completing his education, he worked in various jobs, including as a traveling salesman for the Larkin Soap Company. It was during this time that he began to develop his philosophical ideas and artistic talents.
In 1892, Hubbard founded the Roycroft Press in East Aurora, New York, which became a center for the Arts and Crafts movement in America. The press published books, magazines, and other printed materials, and its products were known for their high quality and craftsmanship. Hubbard's own writings, including essays, stories, and philosophical works, were widely read and admired, and he became a prominent figure in American literary and artistic circles.