Lincoln MacVeagh

Lincoln MacVeagh was born October 1, 1890, in Narragansett Pier, Rhode Island, the son of Charles MacVeagh and Fanny Davenport Rogers MacVeagh. MacVeagh graduated from Groton School in 1909 and Harvard magna cum laude in 1913. He studied languages at the Sorbonne in 1913–14. He was fluent in German, French, Spanish, Latin, and Classical Greek.

On August 17, 1917, MacVeagh married Margaret Charlton Lewis, the daughter of a distinguished linguist. She was also a serious student of classical languages. Their daughter, Margaret Ewen MacVeagh, accompanied her parents on various tours of duty around the world. Mrs. MacVeagh died on September 9, 1947.

MacVeagh served in the U.S. Army during the Great War, attaining the rank of Major. He was a member of the American Expeditionary Force in Europe. He served in the Artois, St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne campaigns and was cited by General of the Armies John J. Pershing in 1919 for "exceptionally meritorious services." After World War I, he became a director of Henry Holt and Company, a publishing firm in New York City. In 1923 he left Henry Holt to found the Dial Press.

The MacVeagh family has several noted names in the history of the United States:

Lincoln's grandfather Wayne MacVeagh was attorney general in the cabinet of President James Garfield.

Lincoln's father Charles MacVeagh was President Calvin Coolidge's ambassador to Japan.

Lincoln's great-uncle Franklin MacVeagh was Secretary of the Treasury in the cabinet of President William Howard Taft.