Jacob A. Cantor
Encyclopedia
Jacob Aaron Cantor was an American lawyer and politician from New York
. He was a United States Representative from 1913 to 1915.
. He was a reporter for the New York World
from 1872 to 1877. At the same time he studied law at the City College of New York
, graduated in 1875, was admitted to the bar
and commenced practice in New York City.
He was a delegate to the 1884 Democratic National Convention
. He was a member from New York County of the New York State Assembly
from 1885 to 1887. He was a member of the New York State Senate
from 1888 to 1898, and was President pro tempore of the New York State Senate
from 1892 to 1893.
On November 2, 1891, his first wife Julia (Lewenthal) Cantor died. On September 25, 1897, he married Lydia Greenbaum, and they had three children: Margaret, Ruth and John.
He was Borough President
of Manhattan from 1902 to 1903, elected on the fusion ticket
headed by Seth Low
for Mayor of New York City
, nominated by the anti-Tammany Hall
Democrats, Republicans and the Citizens Union
.
Cantor was elected as a Democrat
to the 63rd United States Congress
to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Francis Burton Harrison
, and served from November 4, 1913, to March 3, 1915. He unsuccessfully contested the election of Isaac Siegel
to the 64th United States Congress
. Afterwards he resumed the practice of law in New York City.
He was President of the New York City Department of Taxes and Assessments from 1918 until his death. He died at his home at 2345, Broadway
in Manhattan
, and was buried at the Mt. Hope Cemetery in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York
.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He was a United States Representative from 1913 to 1915.
Life
He was born at 19, Second street, NYC, as the son of Henry Cantor and Hannah Cantor, both natives of LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He was a reporter for the New York World
New York World
The New York World was a newspaper published in New York City from 1860 until 1931. The paper played a major role in the history of American newspapers...
from 1872 to 1877. At the same time he studied law at the City College of New York
City College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
, graduated in 1875, was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
and commenced practice in New York City.
He was a delegate to the 1884 Democratic National Convention
1884 Democratic National Convention
In 1884, the Democrats gathered in Chicago for their National Convention. The leading candidate for the nomination was New York Governor Grover Cleveland. Cleveland's reputation for good government made him a national figure. The Republican Party nominated James G. Blaine for president in 1884,...
. He was a member from New York County of the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
from 1885 to 1887. He was a member of the New York State Senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
from 1888 to 1898, and was President pro tempore of the New York State Senate
Majority Leader of the New York State Senate
The Majority Leader of the New York State Senate is elected by the majority of the members of the New York State Senate. The position usually coincides with the title of Temporary President of the State Senate, who presides over the session of the State Senate if the Lieutenant Governor of New York...
from 1892 to 1893.
On November 2, 1891, his first wife Julia (Lewenthal) Cantor died. On September 25, 1897, he married Lydia Greenbaum, and they had three children: Margaret, Ruth and John.
He was Borough President
Borough president
Borough President is an elective office in each of the five boroughs of New York City.-Reasons for establishment:...
of Manhattan from 1902 to 1903, elected on the fusion ticket
Electoral fusion
Electoral fusion is an arrangement where two or more political parties on a ballot list the same candidate, pooling the votes for that candidate...
headed by Seth Low
Seth Low
Seth Low , born in Brooklyn, New York, was an American educator and political figure who served as mayor of Brooklyn, as President of Columbia University, as diplomatic representative of the United States, and as Mayor of New York City...
for Mayor of New York City
Mayor of New York City
The Mayor of the City of New York is head of the executive branch of New York City's government. The mayor's office administers all city services, public property, police and fire protection, most public agencies, and enforces all city and state laws within New York City.The budget overseen by the...
, nominated by the anti-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...
Democrats, Republicans and the Citizens Union
Citizens Union
Citizens Union is one of the United States' first good government groups. Founded in 1897 as a political party, the group was reconstituted in 1908 as a non-partisan member organization with the broad mission of serving "as a watchdog for the public interest and an advocate for the common...
.
Cantor was elected as a Democrat
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...
to the 63rd United States Congress
63rd United States Congress
- House of Representatives:*Democratic : 291 *Republican : 134*Progressive : 9*Independent : 1TOTAL members: 435-Senate:*President of the Senate: Thomas R. Marshall*President pro tempore: James P. Clarke-Senate:...
to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Francis Burton Harrison
Francis Burton Harrison
Francis Burton Harrison was an American statesman who served in the United States House of Representatives and appointed Governor-General of the Philippines by President of the United States Woodrow Wilson...
, and served from November 4, 1913, to March 3, 1915. He unsuccessfully contested the election of Isaac Siegel
Isaac Siegel
Isaac Siegel was a United States Representative from New York.He was born in New York City and attended the public schools. Siegel was graduated from New York University School of Law in 1901 and was admitted to the bar on May 26, 1902...
to the 64th United States Congress
64th United States Congress
The Sixty-fourth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from March 4, 1915 to March 4, 1917, during the third and fourth...
. Afterwards he resumed the practice of law in New York City.
He was President of the New York City Department of Taxes and Assessments from 1918 until his death. He died at his home at 2345, Broadway
Broadway (New York City)
Broadway is a prominent avenue in New York City, United States, which runs through the full length of the borough of Manhattan and continues northward through the Bronx borough before terminating in Westchester County, New York. It is the oldest north–south main thoroughfare in the city, dating to...
in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, and was buried at the Mt. Hope Cemetery in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York
Hastings-on-Hudson, New York
Hastings-on-Hudson is a village in Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located in the southwest part of the town of Greenburgh. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 7,849. It lies on U.S. Route 9, "Broadway" in Hastings...
.
Sources
- http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/canon-caplis.html Political Graveyard
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=990CE1D71739E133A25750C0A9619C946095D6CF Obit in NYT on July 3, 1921 (stating wrong years of his majority leadership)
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9C02E7D8123AE533A25750C0A9679D94609ED7CF Obit of his first wife, in NYT on November 3, 1891