Frederick Gleason (c. 1817 – November 6, 1896) was an American magazine publisher active in Boston during the second half of the 19th century. Gleason was born in Germany and immigrated to the United States as a young man. He studied as a bookbinder but quickly moved into publishing. After some initial success publishing the short stories of 'hack authors', Gleason transitioned into the publication of a weekly story paper, The Flag of our Union in 1845. The publication became popular, with some 75,000 copies in circulation, making Gleason a man of means. In 1851, inspired by the London Illustrated News he began, in partnership with Maturin Murray Ballou, to publish Gleason's Pictorial Drawing-Room Companion. The Companion proved popular and inspired other publications including the New York Daily Times and Harper's Weekly. Gleason sold his share of the Companion to partner Ballou, in 1854, after which it was published as Ballou's Pictorial Drawing-Room Companion. Gleason began speculating in the stock market, both making and loosing fortunes until, with the onset of a financial crises, he found himself in ruin.