Francis Pharcellus Church

Francis Pharcellus Church
Francis Pharcellus Church
Born	February 22, 1839
Died	April 11, 1906(1906-04-11) (aged 67)

Francis Pharcellus Church (February 22, 1839 – April 11, 1906) was an American publisher and editor. He was a member of the Century Association.

He was born in Rochester, New York and graduated from Columbia College of Columbia University in New York City in 1859.

With his brother William Conant Church he established The Army and Navy Journal in 1863, and Galaxy magazine in 1866 (merged with Atlantic Monthly after 10 years). He was a lead editorial writer on his brother's newspaper, the New York Sun, and it was in that capacity that in 1897 he wrote his most famous editorial, Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. In this editorial he responds to a young girl's question if there truly is a Santa Claus, writing that he definitely exists "as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist".

Church died in New York City, aged 67, and was buried in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Sleepy Hollow, New York. He had no children.