William Randolph Hearst

William Randolph Hearst (1863-1951), editor and proprietor of the San Francisco Examiner, was responsible for bankrolling the original 1893 expedition to Mars.

Upon first seeing Nellie Bly accompanying the Avatar in Martian Dreams, he accused her of being a spy for Joseph Pulitzer (his bitter rival). After composing himself, Hearst revealed that, since landing on Mars two years ago, he had taken to collecting Martian artifacts, which he was eager to show off. Hearst was quite convinced that these artifacts would make him a rich man upon his return to Earth.

Amongst the items in his collection was an azurite gem. The Avatar later discovered this gem was used by the mechanical man called Cutter to create heartstones, which could be used to power other mechanical bodies. Hearst was only willing to give up the gem if the hero could discover the fate of Reginald Boringstroke, a man whom Hearst had sent out to take photographs of the new Space Cannon being built. Hearst hoped the photos would be proof of the group's trip to Mars, and boost his paper's circulation.

After climbing Mount Olympus to search for Reginald, the Avatar found only his body, but his camera was lying nearby. Returning to Hearst, the hero was then sent to Georges Méliès in Elysium to develop the camera plate, which Méliès did. Upon the Avatar's return, Hearst was somewhat disappointed in the photo's composition and framing, but handed over the azurite gem, which was later successfully used to bring life to Chsheket's metal body.

On Wikipedia

 * William R. Hearst