Francis W. Hatch

Francis Whiting Hatch (January 9, 1897 – May 14, 1975) was an American businessman, writer, poet, playwright, composer, performer, and philanthropist.

Early life Hatch was born on January 9, 1897, in Medford, Massachusetts, to George Stanley Hatch and Mary Kidder Whiting. During World War I he served as a lieutenant in the 48th Infantry Regiment. He graduated from Harvard University in 1919 and was a member of the Delphic Club. On June 27, 1922, he married Marjorie Katherine Kennard in Cazenovia, New York. The ceremony was performed by Charles Brent, Bishop of the Episcopal Church's Diocese of Western New York. The Hatches resided in Wayland, Massachusetts, and had a summer home in Castine, Maine. They had one child, Francis W. Hatch Jr.

Business In 1921, Hatch went to work for the firm of Barton, Durstine & Osborne (later Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborne). He eventually became the firm's vice president and manager of its Boston office.

Outside of advertising, Hatch was a director of the Putnam Fund, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and Shreve, Crump & Low. In 1947 he was elected to the Massachusetts General Hospital board of trustees. In 1953 he was named publicity chairman of the Mental Health Fund of Massachusetts. He served as chairman of the 1956 Red Feather drive. For 30 years, Hatch was the president and treasurer of Castine Hospital. He also launched a mock campaign against Manhattan clam chowder, which included the song "Why Doesn't a Clam Get Claustrophobia", which he performed on LP record. Another Hatch record, "Urban Redevelopment and Other Swan Songs of Old Boston" included songs such as "Scollay Square, Where Are You Today?", "Henry Thoreau Fell in Love with a Pond", and "God Save the Bricks on Beacon Hill". In Castine, Hatch had an outdoor theater on a bank above a beach, where he wrote, produced, directed, and occasionally performed in plays based on the town's legends and history.

Death In 1967, Hatch moved to Castine, Maine. He died on May 14, 1975, at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.