US Congressman. The third of four Hamilton Fishes to serve in Congress, he graduated from Harvard University in 1909. Fish was a Tackle and football team Captain, was a two-time All-American, and was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. He became involved in the insurance business, and in 1914, he won a New York Assembly seat as a Progressive, serving until 1916. In World War I, he was a Captain and company commander in the 369th Infantry, a regiment of African-American soldiers, receiving the Silver Star, Croix de Guerre, and Legion of Honor. In 1920, he won as a Republican in the special election caused by US Representative Edmund Platt's resignation. He served from November 1920 to January 1945, and his time in Congress was marked by opposition to Franklin Roosevelt. In Roosevelt's 1940 campaign for a third presidential term, he used the habitual opposition of Fish and two other isolationist Congressmen to taunt Republicans that he was running against "Martin, Barton, and Fish." Fish supported the war effort after the Pearl Harbor attack. After losing reelection in 1944, he was a frequent public speaker, especially to veterans groups, and authored an autobiography, "Hamilton Fish: Memoir of an American Patriot." He sponsored legislation to bury an American Unknown at Arlington National Cemetery.
US Congressman. The third of four Hamilton Fishes to serve in Congress, he graduated from Harvard University in 1909. Fish was a Tackle and football team Captain, was a two-time All-American, and was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. He became involved in the insurance business, and in 1914, he won a New York Assembly seat as a Progressive, serving until 1916. In World War I, he was a Captain and company commander in the 369th Infantry, a regiment of African-American soldiers, receiving the Silver Star, Croix de Guerre, and Legion of Honor. In 1920, he won as a Republican in the special election caused by US Representative Edmund Platt's resignation. He served from November 1920 to January 1945, and his time in Congress was marked by opposition to Franklin Roosevelt. In Roosevelt's 1940 campaign for a third presidential term, he used the habitual opposition of Fish and two other isolationist Congressmen to taunt Republicans that he was running against "Martin, Barton, and Fish." Fish supported the war effort after the Pearl Harbor attack. After losing reelection in 1944, he was a frequent public speaker, especially to veterans groups, and authored an autobiography, "Hamilton Fish: Memoir of an American Patriot." He sponsored legislation to bury an American Unknown at Arlington National Cemetery.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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