Cleveland Amory
A sharp-witted social critic who turned his pen from skewering high society to championing the lives of animals with equal fervor.
1917–1997 (age 80)·American author, reporter, commentator and animal rights activist·Birthday: September 2·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Cleveland Amory began his career as a keen-eyed observer of America's social strata, publishing his first and most famous satire, 'The Proper Bostonians,' at age thirty. For decades, he worked as a magazine writer and television critic, his witty commentary a staple for national audiences. In mid-life, his focus underwent a profound shift toward animal welfare, founding the Fund for Animals in 1967 and leading dramatic campaigns against hunting and cruelty. Later, he unexpectedly captured the public's heart with bestselling memoirs about a rescued white cat named Polar Bear, blending his trademark humor with a deep compassion that defined his later years. Amory's legacy is that of a cultural insider who used his platform to give a powerful voice to the voiceless.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Cleveland was born in 1917, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Cleveland Was Born
The biggest hits of 1917
#1 Movie
Cleopatra
Cleveland's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1917Born
Russian Revolution overthrows the tsar; US enters WWI
President: Woodrow Wilson
1922Started school
King Tut's tomb discovered in Egypt
President: Warren G. Harding"April Showers" — Al Jolson
1930Became a teenager
Pluto discovered
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,510President: Herbert Hoover"Body and Soul" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: All Quiet on the Western Front
1933Could drive
FDR's New Deal launches; Prohibition ends
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stormy Weather" — Ethel WatersBest Picture: Cavalcade
1935Could vote
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1938Turned 21
Kristallnacht and the escalation toward WWII
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $2,850Min wage: $0.25/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Begin the Beguine" — Artie ShawBest Picture: You Can't Take It with You
1947Turned 30
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1957Turned 40
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1967Turned 50
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1977Turned 60
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1987Turned 70
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1997Turned 80
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
Key Achievements
- Founded the animal protection organization The Fund for Animals in 1967.
- Authored the bestselling holiday memoir 'The Cat Who Came for Christmas' in 1987.
- Wrote the influential social satire 'The Proper Bostonians,' a 1947 bestseller.
- Led the Fund for Animals' famous rescue of burros from the Grand Canyon in 1979.
Did You Know?
He served as president of the New England Anti-Vivisection Society.
His book 'The Cat Who Came for Christmas' spent 14 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list.
He was a television critic for TV Guide and the Saturday Review.
He once disguised himself as a woman to infiltrate a rodeo and report on animal treatment.
“We ourselves stand at the center of the mystery of the animals, and until we solve it, we shall not solve ourselves.”
