Simon W. Rosendale
Encyclopedia
Simon Wolfe Rosendale was an American
lawyer and politician. Rosendale was the first Jew elected to a statewide elective office in New York
.
Academy. Then he studied law at the office of Courtney & Cassidy in Albany. He was admitted to the bar in 1863, and became an assistant district attorney of Albany County, New York
. In 1868, he was elected Recorder of Albany, and held that office for four years. From 1878 to 1881, he was Corporation Counsel of Albany. In 1881 he formed a partnership with Rufus Wheeler Peckham
, and after Peckham's election to the state bench, he continued his law practice with Albert Hessberg.
As a Democrat, he was New York State Attorney General
from 1892 to 1893, elected in 1891 but defeated for re-election in 1893
.
In 1895, he published The Involution of Wampum
as Currency: the Story Told By the Colonial Ordinances of New Netherland, 1641-1662.
Governor Theodore Roosevelt
appointed him in 1899 to the State Board of Charities, a post he held for 18 years.
In 1919, he was one of 31 prominent Jews who signed an Anti-Zionist Memorandum given to President Woodrow Wilson
, to be presented to the Versailles Peace Conference, stating their opinion against the foundation of a Jewish state in Palestine
.
. He was for a number of years a member of the executive board of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations. He was Chairman of the convention in Philadelphia in 1888, at which the Jewish Publication Society of America
was organized, and was a vice-president of the American Jewish Historical Society
.
He was President of the Board of Governors of Union College
, President of the Board of Trustees of Albany Medical College
, and Governor of the Albany City Hospital.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer and politician. Rosendale was the first Jew elected to a statewide elective office in 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...
.
Life
He graduated from BarreBarre (town), Vermont
Barre is a town in Washington County, Vermont, United States. The population was 7,924 at the 2010 census. Barre town almost completely surrounds Barre city, which is incorporated separately from the town of Barre.-Geography:...
Academy. Then he studied law at the office of Courtney & Cassidy in Albany. He was admitted to the bar in 1863, and became an assistant district attorney of Albany County, New York
Albany County, New York
Albany County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, and is part of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy Metropolitan Statistical Area. The name is from the title of the Duke of York and Albany, who became James II of England . As of the 2010 census, the population was 304,204...
. In 1868, he was elected Recorder of Albany, and held that office for four years. From 1878 to 1881, he was Corporation Counsel of Albany. In 1881 he formed a partnership with Rufus Wheeler Peckham
Rufus Wheeler Peckham
Rufus Wheeler Peckham was an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1895 until 1909. He was known for his strong use of substantive due process to invalidate regulations of business and property. Peckham's namesake father was also a lawyer and judge, and a congressman...
, and after Peckham's election to the state bench, he continued his law practice with Albert Hessberg.
As a Democrat, he was 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...
from 1892 to 1893, elected in 1891 but defeated for re-election in 1893
New York state election, 1893
The 1893 New York state election was held on November 7, 1893, to elect the Secretary of State, the State Comptroller, the Attorney General, the State Treasurer, the State Engineer and a judge of the New York Court of Appeals, as well as all members of the New York State Assembly and the New York...
.
In 1895, he published The Involution of Wampum
Wampum
Wampum are traditional, sacred shell beads of the Eastern Woodlands tribes of the indigenous people of North America. Wampum include the white shell beads fashioned from the North Atlantic channeled whelk shell; and the white and purple beads made from the quahog, or Western North Atlantic...
as Currency: the Story Told By the Colonial Ordinances of New Netherland, 1641-1662.
Governor Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
appointed him in 1899 to the State Board of Charities, a post he held for 18 years.
In 1919, he was one of 31 prominent Jews who signed an Anti-Zionist Memorandum given to President Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
, to be presented to the Versailles Peace Conference, stating their opinion against the foundation of a Jewish state in Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
.
Affiliations
For ten years was president of the court of appeals of the Order of B'nai B'rithB'nai B'rith
B'nai B'rith International |Covenant]]" is the oldest continually operating Jewish service organization in the world. It was initially founded as the Independent Order of B'nai B'rith in New York City, on , 1843, by Henry Jones and 11 others....
. He was for a number of years a member of the executive board of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations. He was Chairman of the convention in Philadelphia in 1888, at which the Jewish Publication Society of America
Jewish Publication Society of America
The Jewish Publication Society , originally known as the Jewish Publication Society of America, is the oldest nonprofit, nondenominational publisher of Jewish works in English...
was organized, and was a vice-president of the American Jewish Historical Society
American Jewish Historical Society
The American Jewish Historical Society was founded in 1892 with the mission to foster awareness and appreciation of the American Jewish heritage and to serve as a national scholarly resource for research through the collection, preservation and dissemination of materials relating to American...
.
He was President of the Board of Governors of Union College
Union College
Union College is a private, non-denominational liberal arts college located in Schenectady, New York, United States. Founded in 1795, it was the first institution of higher learning chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. In the 19th century, it became the "Mother of Fraternities", as...
, President of the Board of Trustees of Albany Medical College
Albany Medical College
Albany Medical College is a medical school located in Albany, New York, United States. It was founded in 1839 by Amos Dean, Dr. Thomas Hun and others, and is one of the oldest medical schools in the nation...
, and Governor of the Albany City Hospital.
Sources
- Chapter 6: Encyclopedia of the Palestine Problem
- The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Rosenberger to Rosenstengel
- Jewish Encyclopedia profile
- ALBANY ASKS A JUSTICE in NYT on September 4, 1895 [gives wrong birth year]
- AFTER EIGHTY GOOD YEARS in NYT on June 25, 1922
- Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle obituary
- Obit on page 18, read at the annual meeting of the Jewish Publication Society
- Complete List of NYS Attorneys General