William Oland Bourne

William Oland Bourne (1819–1901) was an American clergyman, publisher, journalist, editor, author, poet, and social reformer. He published The Soldier's Friend, a disabled veteran's newsletter, and The Iron Platform Extra. He is considered a pioneer in disability rights activism. He also used the name Wm. Oland Bourne and W. O. Bourne.

Early life and family William Oland Bourne was born in 1819, in Germantown in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. Abolitionist Presbyterian minister and author George Bourne and Mary Oland Stibbs Bourne were his parents, and had ten children. His mother Mary Oland Stibbs had immigrated from Bath, Somerset in England, to New Glasgow, Virginia. His father George Bourne immigrated from Westbury, Wiltshire, England and was a noted Presbyterian minister, editor, and considered one of the pioneer of abolitionism in the United States. His brothers, Theodore Bourne (1822–1910), was an author and active in repatriation efforts for African Americans, and Rowland Hill Bourne (1812–1886) was a minister.

When he was 10 years old, his family moved to New York state.

Career During the American Civil War, Bourne served as a hospital chaplain for the Union Army. He was involved with the Workingmen's Democratic Republican Association, and published the related The Iron Platform Extra.

After the death of president Abraham Lincoln on April 15, 1865, Bourne gave a speech at Rev. John Dowling's Berean Baptist Church in Brooklyn, New York City.

Bourne authored an illustrated book of fables, books of poetry and song for children, a history of the Public School Society, and The Sale of a Distillery; a pencilling of the present age, Saxton & Miles (1845) His co-authored the book, The House That Jeff Built (1868) which was a short book of anti-Confederacy verses.

Death and collections He died on June 6, 1901, in Montclair, New Jersey, and is buried at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn. The New York Historical Society & Museum has a collection of his papers.