Sinclair, Upton (1878–1968)

Upton sinclair (1878–1968) was a prolific American author and social activist who made many unsuccessful bids for election to public office. He is best known for his early work The Jungle (1906), which exposed many abuses and scandals in the meat-packing industry and was instrumental in bringing about the Pure Food and Drug Act of [Page 1607]the same year and greatly raised public interest in the industry.

Sinclair was motivated through his life by socialist ideals, which he wished to bring to fruition in American politics. However, his success in this regard was very limited as vested establishment interests mobilized strong media campaigns to label him a communist and his policies fanciful or dangerous. The closest he came to winning office was after moving from New ...