 After the great fire in Chicago he became a reporter on the "Times", later joined the staff of the "Interior", and in 1873 became connected with the Chicago "Tribune", of which he was successively assistant night editor, Washington correspondent, editorial writer, managing editor, and editor in chief.He was also president of the Chicago Tribune Company.Patterson lived in the Patterson Mansion, a Neoclassical 30-room home on Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C., where he entertained many prominent people of the day.