US Senator, Governor of New York. Herbert Lehman's family was engaged in the cotton trading business and helped found the New York Cotton Exchange. He attended The Sachs School and graduated from Williams College. He became vice-president and treasurer of a textile company in Brooklyn. In 1908, he became a partner in Lehman Brothers of New York. During World War I, he was a colonel on the U.S. Army general staff. He became active in politics as chairman of the finance committee of the Democratic Party in 1928. He was elected lieutenant governor of New York in 1928 and 1930. He served four terms as Governor of New York, elected in 1932 and re-elected in 1934, 1936 and 1938. In December 1942 he resigned the governorship to accept an appointment in the US Department of State, serving as director-general of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration from 1943 to 1946. He was the Democratic nominee for US Senator from New York in 1946 but was defeated. In 1949, he ran in a special election to finish he term of the incumbent who had left the office, and won, taking the position in January 1950. He was then elected to a full term later that year, then retired after one term. He remained politically active, working to support the reform Democratic movement in Manhattan. He founded the Lehman Children's Zoo in Central Park. He was the first Jewish governor of New York, and one of the few Jewish senators during his tenure.
US Senator, Governor of New York. Herbert Lehman's family was engaged in the cotton trading business and helped found the New York Cotton Exchange. He attended The Sachs School and graduated from Williams College. He became vice-president and treasurer of a textile company in Brooklyn. In 1908, he became a partner in Lehman Brothers of New York. During World War I, he was a colonel on the U.S. Army general staff. He became active in politics as chairman of the finance committee of the Democratic Party in 1928. He was elected lieutenant governor of New York in 1928 and 1930. He served four terms as Governor of New York, elected in 1932 and re-elected in 1934, 1936 and 1938. In December 1942 he resigned the governorship to accept an appointment in the US Department of State, serving as director-general of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration from 1943 to 1946. He was the Democratic nominee for US Senator from New York in 1946 but was defeated. In 1949, he ran in a special election to finish he term of the incumbent who had left the office, and won, taking the position in January 1950. He was then elected to a full term later that year, then retired after one term. He remained politically active, working to support the reform Democratic movement in Manhattan. He founded the Lehman Children's Zoo in Central Park. He was the first Jewish governor of New York, and one of the few Jewish senators during his tenure.
Bio by: Pete Mohney
Inscription
"Citizen and statesman, he has used wisdom and
compassions as the tools of government and has
made politics the highest form of public service."
Family Members
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See more Lehman memorials in:
Records on Ancestry
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