George U. Harvey
Encyclopedia
George U. Harvey was a Republican
politician from Queens
, New York City
and served as its borough president
for twelve years.
Harvey was born in County Galway
, Ireland
but emigrated with his family to the United States when he was five years old. His father was wealthy and published a trade magazine, International Trade Confectioner. After studying at Coleraine College
in Ireland, Harvey returned to the United States to work as a photojournalist for the journals of the Army and Navy, and then as publisher of his father's journal.
Harvey was commissioned as a Captain in the US Army on May 12, 1917. He served in the first World War, commanding Company A, 308th Infantry, 77th Division. He was honored with the Distinguished Service Cross
for the capture of a machine gun nest during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive
in 1918.
Following the war, Harvey returned to Queens and began his political career. In 1921 he was elected as a Republican to the Queens County Board of Aldermen and served there for four terms.
In 1928 Harvey demanded an investigation into allegations of graft
made against borough president Maurice E. Connolly
, an ally of Tammany Hall
. Connolly was forced to resign as a result of the investigation, and after the brief interim appointment of Bernard M. Patten
, Harvey won election to the office of borough president later that year. Harvey was the first Republican to hold the office.
Harvey oversaw many infrastructure improvements during his tenure, and played a critical role in bringing the 1939 Worlds Fair to Flushing Meadows
. He won three terms in office and twice considered running for Governor of New York
.
Harvey lost to Democrat James A. Burke
in 1941. He died while fighting a fire near his home in New Milford, Connecticut
in 1946. Harvey Park in Whitestone is named after him.
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...
politician from Queens
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
, 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...
and served as its borough president
Borough president
Borough President is an elective office in each of the five boroughs of New York City.-Reasons for establishment:...
for twelve years.
Harvey was born in County Galway
County Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
but emigrated with his family to the United States when he was five years old. His father was wealthy and published a trade magazine, International Trade Confectioner. After studying at Coleraine College
Coleraine College
Coleraine College is a secondary school in Coleraine, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It was formed by an amalgamation of the Coleraine Boys' Secondary school and Coleraine Girls' Secondary School and became Coleraine College in September 2001...
in Ireland, Harvey returned to the United States to work as a photojournalist for the journals of the Army and Navy, and then as publisher of his father's journal.
Harvey was commissioned as a Captain in the US Army on May 12, 1917. He served in the first World War, commanding Company A, 308th Infantry, 77th Division. He was honored with the Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army, for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree...
for the capture of a machine gun nest during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive
Meuse-Argonne Offensive
The Meuse-Argonne Offensive, or Maas-Argonne Offensive, also called the Battle of the Argonne Forest, was a part of the final Allied offensive of World War I that stretched along the entire western front.-Overview:...
in 1918.
Following the war, Harvey returned to Queens and began his political career. In 1921 he was elected as a Republican to the Queens County Board of Aldermen and served there for four terms.
In 1928 Harvey demanded an investigation into allegations of graft
Political corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
made against borough president Maurice E. Connolly
Maurice E. Connolly
Maurice E. Connolly was the Borough president of Queens, New York, USA from 1911 to 1928.Born in Corona, Queens, Queens County, New York, he was the son of Maurice Connolly and Mary Jane Connolly. He was of Irish ancestry. He married Helen M. Connell and they had one child, Helen. He was a Democrat...
, an ally of Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall, also known as the Society of St. Tammany, the Sons of St. Tammany, or the Columbian Order, was a New York political organization founded in 1786 and incorporated on May 12, 1789 as the Tammany Society...
. Connolly was forced to resign as a result of the investigation, and after the brief interim appointment of Bernard M. Patten
Bernard M. Patten
Bernard M. Patten was a politician from Queens, New York, USA. He is notable for having held the office of borough president of Queens for seven months in 1928 following the resignation of Maurice E. Connolly in April of that year....
, Harvey won election to the office of borough president later that year. Harvey was the first Republican to hold the office.
Harvey oversaw many infrastructure improvements during his tenure, and played a critical role in bringing the 1939 Worlds Fair to Flushing Meadows
Flushing Meadows
Flushing Meadows is an American short film by Larry Jordan, with director Joseph Cornell. The film is 8 minutes long, in color, 16mm, and silent....
. He won three terms in office and twice considered running for Governor of New York
Governor of New York
The Governor of the State of New York is the chief executive of the State of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military and naval forces. The officeholder is afforded the courtesy title of His/Her...
.
Harvey lost to Democrat James A. Burke
James A. Burke (NY politician)
James A. Burke was a Democratic politician from Queens, New York City and served as its borough president for eight years....
in 1941. He died while fighting a fire near his home in New Milford, Connecticut
New Milford, Connecticut
New Milford is a town in southern Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States north of Danbury, on the Housatonic River. It is the largest town in the state in terms of land area at nearly . The population was 28,671 according to the Census Bureau's 2006 estimates...
in 1946. Harvey Park in Whitestone is named after him.