Oscar Chopin

Oscar Charles Chopin Jr. (September 24, 1873 – December 28, 1932) was an American artist known for his cartoon illustrations that appeared in several newspapers. He drew the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Weatherbird cartoon from 1903 to 1910.

Biography

Oscar Charles Chopin was born on September 24, 1873, to Oscar Chopin and Kate Chopin, a novelist, in St. Louis, Missouri.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Chopin worked in the Post-Dispatch art department from 1903 to 1910. He took over the illustration of the Weatherbird when creator Harry Martin left the newspaper.^[1] Chopin began using the Weatherbird character as a news cartoon.^[6] S. Carlisle Martin succeeded Chopin as the illustrator of the Weatherbird.^[7] Chopin also worked for the St. Louis Chronicle.^[8]

Chopin moved to California and became a cartoonist for the San Francisco Examiner. He drew political cartoons.^[9] He left that newspaper due to health problems in 1932, when he moved to the Los Angeles Examiner.^[1][10][11]

After traveling to Europe in search of an effective treatment for his health problems, Chopin died of heart disease in Los Angeles on December 28, 1932.^[12][13] He was buried in Calvary Cemetery in St. Louis in the family plot.^[1][8][11] He was survived by his wife, Louise Hinckley Chopin; his daughter, Kate Chopin; and other relatives.^[8][14]