"Was" or "Were"?

[TheParser]

"A succession of editors were engaged to run the newspaper, but none lasted very long."

Did the writer use the wrong form of the verb?

Thank you.

[5jj]

Yes, but this is a common mistake. The plural form after the of leads people to use the wrong form of the verb.

Note that with 'a number of', which we take to mean something like 'several', the plural form is correct.

[TheParser]

Thank you, Moderator 5jj.