Robert Adamson (FDNY Commissioner)
Encyclopedia
Robert Edward Adamson was an American
journalist
and public official.
to Augustus Pitt Adamson and Martilla Ellen Cook. He began writing articles for the Macon, Georgia
newspaper while still in his teens. At age 20, he became city editor of the Atlanta Constitution. He later moved to New York City
and worked as a reporter for The New York Sun, the New York World
, and the Brooklyn Eagle
. He married Ethel McClintock May on December 10, 1902 at Trinity Chapel
in Manhattan
.
In 1910, Adamson became secretary to New York Mayor William Jay Gaynor
, and gained fame by helping thwart an assassination
attempt on Gaynor. When Gaynor died in September 1910, Adamson continued as secretary to the new mayor, Ardolph Loges Kline
. In 1914, he was campaign manager for John Purroy Mitchel
, who after his election appointed Adamson as the 9th Fire Commissioner of the City of New York. Adamson served in that position until the end of the Mitchel Administration on December 31, 1917.
Adamson unsuccessfully ran for the New York Board of Aldermen in 1917. He then left politics to work in banking and public relations. He died of a heart attack in New York in 1935.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and public official.
Biography
Adamson was born on March 31, 1871 in GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
to Augustus Pitt Adamson and Martilla Ellen Cook. He began writing articles for the Macon, Georgia
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
newspaper while still in his teens. At age 20, he became city editor of the Atlanta Constitution. He later 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...
and worked as a reporter for The New York Sun, 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...
, and the Brooklyn Eagle
Brooklyn Eagle
The Brooklyn Daily Bulletin began publishing when the original Eagle folded in 1955. In 1996 it merged with a newly revived Brooklyn Daily Eagle, and now publishes a morning paper five days a week under the Brooklyn Daily Eagle name...
. He married Ethel McClintock May on December 10, 1902 at Trinity Chapel
Trinity Chapel Complex
Trinity Chapel Complex, now the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Sava, is a historic church at 15 West 25th Street between Broadway and the Avenue of the Americas in the NoMad neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City....
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...
.
In 1910, Adamson became secretary to New York Mayor William Jay Gaynor
William Jay Gaynor
William Jay Gaynor was an American politician from New York City, associated with the Tammany Hall political machine. He served as mayor of the City of New York from 1910 to 1913, as well as stints as a New York Supreme Court Justice from 1893 to 1909.-Early life:Gaynor was born in Oriskany, New...
, and gained fame by helping thwart an assassination
Assassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
attempt on Gaynor. When Gaynor died in September 1910, Adamson continued as secretary to the new mayor, Ardolph Loges Kline
Ardolph Loges Kline
Ardolph Loges Kline , was a senior officer of the New York National Guard and a Republican politician who became acting Mayor of New York City on September 10, 1913 upon the death of Mayor William Jay Gaynor, serving for the rest of the year...
. In 1914, he was campaign manager for John Purroy Mitchel
John Purroy Mitchel
John Purroy Mitchel was the mayor of New York from 1914 to 1917. At age 34 he was the second-youngest ever; he is sometimes referred to as "The Boy Mayor of New York." Mayor Mitchel is remembered for his short career as leader of Reform politics in New York, as well as for his early death as an...
, who after his election appointed Adamson as the 9th Fire Commissioner of the City of New York. Adamson served in that position until the end of the Mitchel Administration on December 31, 1917.
Adamson unsuccessfully ran for the New York Board of Aldermen in 1917. He then left politics to work in banking and public relations. He died of a heart attack in New York in 1935.