Frank S. Katzenbach
Encyclopedia
Frank Snowden Katzenbach, Jr. (November 5, 1868 – March 13, 1929) was an American
jurist
and Democratic party
politician
from New Jersey
. He was an Associate Justice
of the New Jersey Supreme Court
and was the Democratic nominee for Governor of New Jersey
in 1907. He was the brother of New Jersey Attorney General
Edward L. Katzenbach
and uncle of United States Attorney General
Nicholas Katzenbach
.
in 1868 to Frank Snowden and Augusta (Mushbach) Katzenbach. He attended the Model School and graduated from Princeton University
in 1889. He prepared for the bar at Columbia Law School
and in the office of James Buchanan
. He was elected alderman-at-large in Trenton in 1898, and then was elected Mayor of Trenton, New Jersey
in 1901 and 1903.
At the Democratic State Convention of 1907 Katzenbach received the party's nomination for Governor of New Jersey
. In the campaign against the Republican
nominee John Franklin Fort
, both candidates agreed on the creation of a public utilities commission
, the enactment of civil service
reform, and the adoption of direct primary elections. The election returns were extremely close, with many newspapers (including The New York Times) announcing the next day that Katzenbach had won. But late returns from Hudson County
showed that Fort had eked out a victory.
Katzenbach continued practicing law until 1920, when he was appointed by Governor Edward I. Edwards to the New Jersey Supreme Court
. He served as a Justice until 1929, when he died in a Trenton hospital from septicemia
caused by a leg infection. He was 60 years old.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jurist
Jurist
A jurist or jurisconsult is a professional who studies, develops, applies, or otherwise deals with the law. The term is widely used in American English, but in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth countries it has only historical and specialist usage...
and Democratic party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. He was an Associate Justice
Associate Justice
Associate Justice or Associate Judge is the title for a member of a judicial panel who is not the Chief Justice in some jurisdictions. The title "Associate Justice" is used for members of the United States Supreme Court and some state supreme courts, and for some other courts in Commonwealth...
of the New Jersey Supreme Court
New Jersey Supreme Court
The New Jersey Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It has existed in three different forms under the three different state constitutions since the independence of the state in 1776...
and was the Democratic nominee for Governor of New Jersey
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
in 1907. He was the brother of New Jersey Attorney General
New Jersey Attorney General
The Attorney General of New Jersey is a member of the executive cabinet of the state. The office is appointed by the Governor of New Jersey and term limited...
Edward L. Katzenbach
Edward L. Katzenbach
Edward Lawrence Katzenbach was the Attorney General of New Jersey from 1924 to 1929. He was the brother of New Jersey Supreme Court Justice Frank S. Katzenbach and the father of United States Attorney General Nicholas Katzenbach.Katzenbach was born in Trenton, New Jersey in 1878 to Frank Snowden...
and uncle of United States Attorney General
United States Attorney General
The United States Attorney General is the head of the United States Department of Justice concerned with legal affairs and is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States government. The attorney general is considered to be the chief lawyer of the U.S. government...
Nicholas Katzenbach
Nicholas Katzenbach
Nicholas deBelleville Katzenbach is an American lawyer who served as United States Attorney General during the Lyndon B. Johnson administration.-Early life:...
.
Biography
Katzenbach was born in Trenton, New JerseyTrenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
in 1868 to Frank Snowden and Augusta (Mushbach) Katzenbach. He attended the Model School and graduated from Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
in 1889. He prepared for the bar at Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
and in the office of James Buchanan
James Buchanan (New Jersey)
James Buchanan was an American Republican Party politician who represented New Jersey's 2nd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1885 to 1893....
. He was elected alderman-at-large in Trenton in 1898, and then was elected Mayor of Trenton, New Jersey
Mayor of Trenton, New Jersey
Mayor of Trenton, New Jersey:*Tony F. Mack 2010 to present.*Douglas Harold Palmer 1990 to 2010. Douglas Harold Palmer was the first African American mayor of Trenton, New Jersey.*Arthur John Holland 1970 to circa 1990....
in 1901 and 1903.
At the Democratic State Convention of 1907 Katzenbach received the party's nomination for Governor of New Jersey
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
. In the campaign against the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
nominee John Franklin Fort
John Franklin Fort
John Franklin Fort was an American Republican Party politician, who served as the 33rd Governor of New Jersey, from 1908–1911. His uncle, George Franklin Fort, was a Democratic Governor of New Jersey from 1851–1854....
, both candidates agreed on the creation of a public utilities commission
Public Utilities Commission
A Utilities commission, Utility Regulatory Commission , Public Utilities Commission or Public Service Commission is a governing body that regulates the rates and services of a public utility...
, the enactment of civil service
Civil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
reform, and the adoption of direct primary elections. The election returns were extremely close, with many newspapers (including The New York Times) announcing the next day that Katzenbach had won. But late returns from Hudson County
Hudson County, New Jersey
Hudson County is the smallest county in New Jersey and one of the most densely populated in United States. It takes its name from the Hudson River, which creates part of its eastern border. Part of the New York metropolitan area, its county seat and largest city is Jersey City.- Municipalities...
showed that Fort had eked out a victory.
Katzenbach continued practicing law until 1920, when he was appointed by Governor Edward I. Edwards to the New Jersey Supreme Court
New Jersey Supreme Court
The New Jersey Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It has existed in three different forms under the three different state constitutions since the independence of the state in 1776...
. He served as a Justice until 1929, when he died in a Trenton hospital from septicemia
Sepsis
Sepsis is a potentially deadly medical condition that is characterized by a whole-body inflammatory state and the presence of a known or suspected infection. The body may develop this inflammatory response by the immune system to microbes in the blood, urine, lungs, skin, or other tissues...
caused by a leg infection. He was 60 years old.