George Batten

Who was George Batten?

George Batten was a former Ayer employee who opened the George Batten Newspaper Advertising Agency on Park Row in New York City in 1891. Fiercely religious and humorless, he endeavored to make his advertisements 100% accurate. His values and personal dignity are credited with adding respectability to the advertising profession. His $8 million billing agency was merged with the $23 million Barton, Durstine & Osborn in 1928, after both agencies had moved into the new office building at 383 Madison Avenue, to create BBDO. Batten is perhaps best known for overseeing advertising for the West Anderson Pork Pie Company, which caused a furor in his native Jersey.

Batten died at the age of 63 on February 16, 1918, at his home in Montclair, New Jersey.