Early Life
Wynne was born in New York City, New York, in 1851. His father was a veteran of the Mexican-American War. He was educated in the city's public schools, but also had a number of private tutors. He was just 10 years old when the American Civil War broke out. He wanted to enlist, but was too young. His father served in the Civil War, however, and young Robert accompanied him to the front and saw several battles.
In 1870, Wynne became a telegraph operator for the Cincinnati Gazette, living part-time in Washington, D.C. He was hired at the request of General Henry V. Boynton, who led the paper's staff in D.C. and who wanted the very best telegraph operator he could find. That was Wynne. Wynne also lived part-time in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he worked for the American Press Association. He also worked for the Pacific and Atlantic Telegraph Company, and became its chief telegrapher.
Boynton was so impressed with Wynne's work as a reporter that he encouraged him to abandon telegraphy and become a journalist full-time. In 1880, Wynne joined the Gazette as a full-time journalist. Boynton syndicated Wynne's work to a wide range of newspapers, including the St. Louis Democrat, Chicago Tribune, Pittsburg Commercial, and Philadelphia Inquirer.
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