Edward R. Dudley
Encyclopedia
Edward Richard Dudley was the first African-American to hold the rank of Ambassador of the United States, serving as Ambassador to Liberia
from 1949 to 1953.
in 1932, and then taught school in Gainsboro
, Virginia
. He studied dentistry
for a year on a scholarship at Howard University
, and then moved to New York City
.
In New York, Dudley worked odd jobs, among them as stage manager for Orson Welles
at a public works theater project. In 1938, he enrolled at St. John's University School of Law
, graduating with an LL.B. in 1941. For a brief period he practiced law, entered Democratic politics in Harlem
, and was an Assistant New York State Attorney General
in 1942. In 1942, he married Rae Oley, and they had a son, Edward R. Dudley, Jr.
In 1943, he joined the N.A.A.C.P. legal team. As an assistant special counsel, he wrote briefs and prepared cases seeking the admission of black students to Southern colleges, equal pay for black teachers, and an end to discrimination in public transportation.
He was executive assistant to the Governor of the Virgin Islands from 1945 to 1947, and was then appointed by President Harry S. Truman
as Minister to Liberia
in 1948, and Ambassador in 1949.
Returning home in 1953, he practiced law and directed the N.A.A.C.P.'s Freedom Fund. In 1955, New York City Mayor Robert F. Wagner, Jr.
, appointed him a justice on the Domestic Relations Court.
Dudley served as the Borough President of Manhattan from 1961 to 1964. In the New York state election of 1962, he was the Democratic and Liberal candidate for Attorney General
but was defeated by the Republican incumbent, Louis Lefkowitz
. He was a delegate to the 1964 Democratic National Convention
.
In November 1964, Dudley was elected as a Justice of the New York State Supreme Court for the First Judicial District (Manhattan and the Bronx). He served from 1965 until his retirement in 1985.
He died of prostate cancer
in St. Luke's Hospital
in Manhattan.
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
from 1949 to 1953.
Life
Dudley graduated with a B.S. degree from Johnson C. Smith CollegeJohnson C. Smith University
Johnson C. Smith University is a private, co-ed, four-year liberal arts institution of higher learning located in the heart of Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. It is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. JCSU is also a historically black college...
in 1932, and then taught school in Gainsboro
Gainsboro, Roanoke, Virginia
Gainsboro is a Roanoke, Virginia neighborhood located in central Roanoke immediately north of Downtown, across the Norfolk Southern Railway right of way, between Interstate 581 and Orange Avenue. It borders the neighborhoods of Harrison and Gilmer on the west, Washington Park on the north,...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. He studied dentistry
Dentistry
Dentistry is the branch of medicine that is involved in the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, disorders and conditions of the oral cavity, maxillofacial area and the adjacent and associated structures and their impact on the human body. Dentistry is widely considered...
for a year on a scholarship at Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
, and then moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
In New York, Dudley worked odd jobs, among them as stage manager for Orson Welles
Orson Welles
George Orson Welles , best known as Orson Welles, was an American film director, actor, theatre director, screenwriter, and producer, who worked extensively in film, theatre, television and radio...
at a public works theater project. In 1938, he enrolled at St. John's University School of Law
St. John's University School of Law
St. John's University School of Law is a Roman Catholic law school in Queens, New York City, affiliated with St. John's University. The School of Law was founded in 1925, and confers Juris Doctor degrees and degrees for Master of Laws in Bankruptcy and Master of Laws in U.S. Studies. Over 13,000 St...
, graduating with an LL.B. in 1941. For a brief period he practiced law, entered Democratic politics in Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
, and was an Assistant New York State Attorney General
New York State Attorney General
The New York State Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State of New York. The office has been in existence in some form since 1626, under the Dutch colonial government of New York.The current Attorney General is Eric Schneiderman...
in 1942. In 1942, he married Rae Oley, and they had a son, Edward R. Dudley, Jr.
In 1943, he joined the N.A.A.C.P. legal team. As an assistant special counsel, he wrote briefs and prepared cases seeking the admission of black students to Southern colleges, equal pay for black teachers, and an end to discrimination in public transportation.
He was executive assistant to the Governor of the Virgin Islands from 1945 to 1947, and was then appointed by President Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
as Minister to Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
in 1948, and Ambassador in 1949.
Returning home in 1953, he practiced law and directed the N.A.A.C.P.'s Freedom Fund. In 1955, New York City Mayor Robert F. Wagner, Jr.
Robert F. Wagner, Jr.
Robert Ferdinand Wagner II, usually known as Robert F. Wagner, Jr. served three terms as the mayor of New York City, from 1954 through 1965.-Biography:...
, appointed him a justice on the Domestic Relations Court.
Dudley served as the Borough President of Manhattan from 1961 to 1964. In the New York state election of 1962, he was the Democratic and Liberal candidate for Attorney General
New York State Attorney General
The New York State Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State of New York. The office has been in existence in some form since 1626, under the Dutch colonial government of New York.The current Attorney General is Eric Schneiderman...
but was defeated by the Republican incumbent, Louis Lefkowitz
Louis Lefkowitz
Louis J. Lefkowitz was an American lawyer and politician.-Life:...
. He was a delegate to the 1964 Democratic National Convention
1964 Democratic National Convention
The 1964 Democratic National Convention was the 1964 presidential nominating convention of the Democratic Party. It took place at the Atlantic City Convention Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey from August 24 to 27, 1964. Incumbent President Lyndon B. Johnson -- who had been Vice President under...
.
In November 1964, Dudley was elected as a Justice of the New York State Supreme Court for the First Judicial District (Manhattan and the Bronx). He served from 1965 until his retirement in 1985.
He died of prostate cancer
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing; however, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer cells may metastasize from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly...
in St. Luke's Hospital
St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center
St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, an academic affiliate of Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, is a 1,076-bed, full-service community and tertiary care hospital serving New York City’s Midtown West, Upper West Side and parts of Harlem....
in Manhattan.
External links
- Diplomats laud first black U.S. ambassador (1994)
- http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ho/po/com/10906.htm U.S. Secretary of State info
- http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/dudley.html Political Graveyard
- Edward R. Dudley, 93, Civil Rights Advocate and Judge, Dies in NYT on February 11, 2005