George R. Lunn
Encyclopedia
George Richard Lunn was an American clergyman and politician from New York
. He was the first Socialist mayor in the State of New York, and was a U.S. Representative from 1917 to 1919.
in 1898, and was Commander-in-Chief of the United Spanish War Veterans
in 1931-32. He was Mayor of Schenectady, New York
from 1912 to 1913 and from 1916 to 1917, elected on the Socialist
ticket, and from 1920 to 1922, elected as a Democrat. Lunn was elected as a Democrat to the 65th United States Congress
, and served from March 4, 1917, to March 3, 1919. In 1920, he was defeated by Harry C. Walker
in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senator from New York.
He was Lieutenant Governor of New York
from 1923 to 1924, elected on the Democratic ticket with Governor Al Smith
in 1922, but defeated for re-election in 1924. Lunn owned the land upon which Lath maintained his famous ice house in the leading collateral agreement case, Mitchell v. Lath (Ct. of App. of N.Y, 247 N.Y. 377). The facts of the case are mentioned in the official comments to the Principles of European Contract Law.
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 the first Socialist mayor in the State of New York, and was a U.S. Representative from 1917 to 1919.
Life
He fought in the Spanish-American WarSpanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
in 1898, and was Commander-in-Chief of the United Spanish War Veterans
United Spanish War Veterans
Soon after the Spanish-American War ended, in early 1899, discharged veterans rushed to form fraternal societies. Among these were the Spanish War Veterans, the Spanish-American War Veterans, the Servicemen of the Spanish War, American Veterans of Foreign Service, the Army of the Philippines, the...
in 1931-32. He was Mayor of Schenectady, New York
Schenectady, New York
Schenectady is a city in Schenectady County, New York, United States, of which it is the county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 66,135...
from 1912 to 1913 and from 1916 to 1917, elected on the Socialist
Socialist Party of America
The Socialist Party of America was a multi-tendency democratic-socialist political party in the United States, formed in 1901 by a merger between the three-year-old Social Democratic Party of America and disaffected elements of the Socialist Labor Party which had split from the main organization...
ticket, and from 1920 to 1922, elected as a Democrat. Lunn was elected as a Democrat to the 65th United States Congress
65th United States Congress
The Sixty-fifth 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, 1917 to March 4, 1919, during the fourth and fifth...
, and served from March 4, 1917, to March 3, 1919. In 1920, he was defeated by Harry C. Walker
Harry C. Walker
Harry Clay Walker was an American lawyer and politician from New York. He was Lieutenant Governor of New York from 1919 to 1920.-Life:...
in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senator from New York.
He was Lieutenant Governor of New York
Lieutenant Governor of New York
The Lieutenant Governor of New York is a constitutional office in the executive branch of the government of New York State. It is the second highest ranking official in state government. The lieutenant governor is elected on a ticket with the governor for a four year term...
from 1923 to 1924, elected on the Democratic ticket with Governor Al Smith
Al Smith
Alfred Emanuel Smith. , known in private and public life as Al Smith, was an American statesman who was elected the 42nd Governor of New York three times, and was the Democratic U.S. presidential candidate in 1928...
in 1922, but defeated for re-election in 1924. Lunn owned the land upon which Lath maintained his famous ice house in the leading collateral agreement case, Mitchell v. Lath (Ct. of App. of N.Y, 247 N.Y. 377). The facts of the case are mentioned in the official comments to the Principles of European Contract Law.
External links
- George R. Lunn: Man of Two Parties. Article illustrated with Lunn's campaign buttons as both a Socialist and a Democrat.
- http://freepages.military.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~sunnyann/commanders-photos.html Commanders-in-Chief of the USWV, with photo, at RootsWeb
Sources
- Gurnett, Kate. The rise of socialism in Schenectady. Albany Times Union. Monday, June 12, 2006.
Further reading
- Hendrickson Jr., Kenneth E. Tribune of the People: George R. Lunn and the Rise and Fall of Christian Socialism in Schenectady, in Socialism and the Cities, Bruce M. Stave, ed. Port Washington: Kennikat Press. 1975.
- Hendrickson Jr., Kenneth E. George R. Lunn and the Socialist Era in Schenectady, New York, 1909-1916. New York History. January, 1966.
- Gardner, George R. Lunn The Schenectadians, The Story of Schenectady's 20th Century and two men who helped shape it, Writer's Club Press, an imprint of iUniverse.com, Inc., 2001, ISBN: 0-595-13723-7