Robert Watson Pomeroy (June 21, 1902 – January 4, 1989) was an American businessman and politician from
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
New York may also refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* ...
.
Early life
He was born on June 21, 1902, in
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is a Administrative divisions of New York (state), city in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York and county seat of Erie County, New York, Erie County. It lies in Western New York at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the head of ...
, the son of Robert Watson Pomeroy, Sr. (1868–1935),
a Yale graduate who was an industrialist and financier in Buffalo and New York,
and Lucy (
née
The birth name is the name of the person given upon their birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name or to the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a births registe ...
Bemis) Pomeroy (1869–1958), a former president of the Palmetto Garden Club.
He attended the
Hotchkiss School
The Hotchkiss School is a private college-preparatory day and boarding school in Lakeville, Connecticut. It educates approximately 600 students in grades 9–12, plus postgraduates. Founded in 1891, it was one of the first English-style boardi ...
. He graduated with a
Ph.B. from
Yale University
Yale University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701, Yale is the List of Colonial Colleges, third-oldest institution of higher education in the United Stat ...
in 1924.
His paternal grandparents were Elizabeth (née Watson) Pomeroy,
and Congressman
Theodore M. Pomeroy
Theodore Medad Pomeroy (December 31, 1824 – March 23, 1905) was an American businessman and politician from New York who served as the 26th speaker of the United States House of Representatives for one day, from March 3, 1869, to March 4, 1869 ...
(1824–1905) who served as the 26th
Speaker of the House
The speaker of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body, is its presiding officer, or the chair. The title was first used in 1377 in England.
Usage
The title was first recorded in 1377 to describe the role of Thomas de Hung ...
following
Schuyler Colfax
Schuyler Colfax Jr. ( ; March 23, 1823January 13, 1885) was an American journalist, businessman, and politician who served as the 17th vice president of the United States from 1869 to 1873, and prior to that as the 25th Speaker of the United Sta ...
and was a close friend of
U.S. Secretary of State
The United States secretary of state (SecState) is a member of the executive branch of the federal government of the United States and the head of the U.S. Department of State.
The secretary of state serves as the principal advisor to the p ...
(under Lincoln)
William H. Seward
William Henry Seward (; May 16, 1801 – October 10, 1872) was an American politician who served as United States Secretary of State from 1861 to 1869, and earlier served as governor of New York and as a United States senator. A determined opp ...
.
Career
After graduating from Yale, he engaged in the management of investments. During
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
he served in the
U.S. Army
The United States Army (USA) is the primary land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of the United Stat ...
, attaining the rank of captain. After the war he entered politics as a
Republican.
Pomeroy was a member of the
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature, with the New York State Senate being the upper house. There are 150 seats in the Assembly. Assembly members serve two-year terms without term limits.
The Ass ...
(Dutchess Co.) from 1948 to 1964, sitting in the
166th,
167th,
168th,
169th,
170th,
171st,
172nd,
173rd and
174th New York State Legislature
The 174th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 9, 1963, to December 30, 1964, during the fifth and sixth years of Nelson Rockefeller's governorship, in Albany.
...
s. He was a leading
conservationist, and was Chairman of the Joint Legislative Committee on Natural Resources from 1959 to 1965.
He was a member of the
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is the upper house of the New York State Legislature, while the New York State Assembly is its lower house. Established in 1777 by the Constitution of New York, its members are elected to two-year terms with no term l ...
in
1965
Events January–February
* January 14 – The First Minister of Northern Ireland and the Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland meet for the first time in 43 years.
* January 20
** Lyndon B. Johnson is Second inauguration of Lynd ...
and
1966
Events January
* January 1 – In a coup, Colonel Jean-Bédel Bokassa takes over as military ruler of the Central African Republic, ousting President David Dacko.
* January 3 – 1966 Upper Voltan coup d'état: President Maurice Yaméogo i ...
;
and a delegate to the
New York State Constitutional Convention
The Constitution of the State of New York establishes the structure of the government of the State of New York, and enumerates the basic rights of the citizens of New York. Like most state constitutions in the United States, New York's constituti ...
of 1967.
''Directory of Delegates and Staff''
of the NYS Constitutional Convention (1967; pg. 80)
Personal life
In 1930, he married Estelle Condit Bassett (1907–1988), the daughter of Carroll Phillips Bassett and Margaret (née Condit) Bassett. Together, they were the parents of two children:
* Marnie Pomeroy (b. 1932), a Sarah Lawrence College
Sarah Lawrence College (SLC) is a Private university, private liberal arts college in Yonkers, New York, United States. Founded as a Women's colleges in the United States, women's college in 1926, Sarah Lawrence College has been coeducational ...
graduate who moved to Ottawa, Canada
Ottawa is the capital city of Canada. It is located in the southern portion of the province of Ontario, at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the core of the Ottawa–Gatineau ...
and co-founded The Ladysmith Press.
* Robert Watson Pomeroy III (b. 1935)
He died on January 4, 1989, at his home in Millbrook, New York
Millbrook is a Administrative divisions of New York#Village, village in Dutchess County, New York, United States. Millbrook is located in the Hudson Valley, on the east side of the Hudson River, north of New York City. Millbrook is near the cent ...
, of heart failure;[''Robert Pomeroy, 86, An Ex-Legislator, Dies''](_blank)
in the ''New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'' on January 10, 1989 and was buried at St. Peter's Episcopal Cemetery in Lithgow.
References
External links
*
The Auburn, NY Pomeroy Anvil Monument
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pomeroy, Robert Watson
1902 births
1989 deaths
People from Millbrook, New York
Republican Party members of the New York State Assembly
Republican Party New York (state) state senators
Yale University alumni
United States Army officers
Businesspeople from Buffalo, New York
Politicians from Buffalo, New York
20th-century American businesspeople
20th-century members of the New York State Legislature