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Martin H. Glynn

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(Redirected from Martin Henry Glynn) American politician (1871–1924) For other people named Martin Glynn, see Martin Glynn (disambiguation).

Martin H. Glynn
Glynn in 1910
40th Governor of New York
In office
October 17, 1913 – December 31, 1914
LieutenantRobert F. Wagner (acting)
Preceded byWilliam Sulzer
Succeeded byCharles S. Whitman
Lieutenant Governor of New York
In office
January 1, 1913 – October 17, 1913
GovernorWilliam Sulzer
Preceded byThomas F. Conway
Succeeded byRobert F. Wagner (acting)
39th Comptroller of New York
In office
January 1, 1907 – December 31, 1908
GovernorCharles Evans Hughes
Preceded byWilliam C. Wilson
Succeeded byCharles H. Gaus
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 20th district
In office
March 4, 1899 – March 3, 1901
Preceded byGeorge N. Southwick
Succeeded byGeorge N. Southwick
Personal details
BornMartin Henry Glynn
(1871-09-27)September 27, 1871
Valatie, New York, U.S.
DiedDecember 14, 1924(1924-12-14) (aged 53)
Albany, New York, U.S.
Resting placeSt. Agnes Cemetery, Menands, New York
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseMary McGrane
EducationFordham University (BA)
Union University, New York (LLB)
Signature

Martin Henry Glynn (September 27, 1871 – December 14, 1924) was an American politician. He was the 40th governor of New York from 1913 to 1914, the first Irish American Roman Catholic head of government of what was then the most populated state of the United States. A Democrat, he signed a number of important reforms, including the direct primary and labor laws.

Life

Glynn was born in Kinderhook, New York and grew up in Valatie, one of Kinderhook's villages. He was the son of Martin Glynn (son of Martin Glynn and Catherine de Burke) and Ann Scanlon, who were both born in Ireland.

He graduated from Fordham University in 1894, then studied at Albany Law School of Union University, New York, and was admitted to the bar in 1897. From 1896 on, he wrote for the Albany Times-Union daily newspaper, becoming eventually its editor, publisher and owner. In 1898, Fordham awarded Glynn the honorary degree of Master of Arts. Over the course of his career, Glynn received honorary LL.D. degrees from Fordham, Syracuse, Georgetown, and Union Universities.

Glynn as a Congressman in 1901. Bain Collection, Library of Congress.

Glynn was elected as a Democrat to the 56th United States Congress, and served from March 4, 1899, to March 3, 1901. When he took his seat at age 26, Glynn was the youngest member of the House. He was New York State Comptroller from 1907 to 1908, elected in 1906, but defeated for re-election in 1908 by Republican Charles H. Gaus.

At the New York state election of 1912, Glynn was the running mate of the successful Democratic candidate for Governor, William Sulzer. Glynn was sworn in as Lieutenant Governor of New York on January 1. Following friction with the dominant Tammany Hall faction, Sulzer was impeached and in August 1913, Glynn was appointed Acting Governor. On October 17, following Sulzer's formal removal from office, Glynn was sworn in as Governor. He was the first Catholic Governor of New York and showed an interest in Irish-American affairs. However, Glynn was forced to manage conflict in his own party between Tammany Hall and reformers/progressives led by Sulzer, who became a critic of Glynn's administration. After a year in office Glynn was defeated at the 1914 election, by the Republican candidate, Charles S. Whitman. Sulzer was later active in the Progressive Party. Glynn was active in the progressive movement. David Sarasohn calls him "an able and progressive governor" who signed numerous reforms.

Glynn was a delegate to the 1916 and 1924 Democratic National Conventions. As the keynote speaker at the 1916 National Democratic Convention, Glynn delivered one of his most famous speeches, praising the accomplishments of President Woodrow Wilson and the platform of the Democratic Party.

Death and burial

He committed suicide by gunshot in 1924, after having suffered throughout his adult life from chronic back pain caused by a spinal injury. Though the cause of death was listed on his death certificate, the local media reported that Glynn died of heart trouble. The true story of his death was publicized in Dominick Lizzi's 1994 biography. He was buried at St. Agnes Cemetery in Menands, New York.

The gravesite of Governor Glynn

"The Crucifixion of Jews Must Stop!"

Glynn's article "The Crucifixion of Jews Must Stop!" was published in the October 31, 1919, issue of The American Hebrew; in it he lamented the poor conditions for European Jews after World War I. Glynn referred to these conditions as a potential "holocaust" and asserted that "six million Jewish men and women are starving across the seas". The figure of six million, which is also the generally accepted number of Jews who perished in The Holocaust of World War II has been exploited by Holocaust deniers. However, historian Robert N. Proctor says it "is simply a remarkable coincidence and nothing more."

Notes

  1. Holmes, Frank R. (1924). Who's Who in New York City and State. Vol. 8. New York, NY: L. R. Hamersly Company. p. 513.
  2. ^ Who's Who in New York City and State, p. 513.
  3. David Sarasohn, The Party of Reform: Democrats in the Progressive Era (University Press of Mississippi, 1989) p. 115.
  4. "Ex-Gov. Glynn Dies Suddenly In Albany Home. Stricken With a Heart Attack After His Return From a Boston Sanitarium". New York Times. December 14, 1924. Retrieved August 1, 2014. Former Governor Martin H. Glynn died in his home here today. Mr. Glynn returned yesterday from a hospital in the suburbs of Boston, where he had been under treatment during the last two months for spinal trouble of long standing. Members of his family said he complained last night of not feeling well, but attributed it to the trip
  5. Dominick C. Lizzi, Governor Martin H. Glynn, Forgotten Hero, Valatie Press. LOC Catalog Card Number:94-96495
  6. Paul Grondahl, Albany Times-Union, Big News, Small-Town Flavor: 1924 is a Turning Point Archived 2014-03-23 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved December 18, 2013
  7. Grimaldi, Kelly (December 3, 2022). "Martin Glynn, New York's First Irish Catholic Governor". Capital District Cemeteries.org. Albany, NY: Albany Diocesan Cemeteries. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  8. Image of the text
  9. reference to article in Jewish Virtual Library
  10. Janairo, Michael (September 1, 2007). "Arts Talk: Local books: "Governor Martin H. Glynn, Forgotten Hero"". Times Union. Albany, NY.
  11. Proctor, Robert N. (2000). The Nazi War on Cancer. Princeton University Press. p. 11.

Sources

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded byGeorge N. Southwick Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 20th congressional district
1899–1901 		Succeeded byGeorge N. Southwick
Political offices
Preceded byWilliam C. Wilson Comptroller of New York
1907–1908 		Succeeded byCharles H. Gaus
Preceded byThomas F. Conway Lieutenant Governor of New York
1913 		Succeeded byRobert F. Wagner
Acting
Preceded byWilliam Sulzer Governor of New York
1913–1914 		Succeeded byCharles S. Whitman
Party political offices
Preceded byGeorge Hall Democratic nominee for New York State Comptroller
1906, 1908 		Succeeded byWilliam Sohmer
Preceded byThomas F. Conway Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of New York
1912 		Succeeded byThomas B. Lockwood
Preceded byWilliam Sulzer Democratic nominee for Governor of New York
1914 		Succeeded bySamuel Seabury
Preceded byAlton B. Parker Keynote Speaker of the Democratic National Convention
1916 		Succeeded byHomer Cummings
Governors and lieutenant governors of New York
Governors
Lieutenant
governors
  • Italics indicate acting officeholders
New York state comptrollers
* as Auditor General, ** as Auditor, *** Acting
New York's delegation(s) to the 56th United States Congresses (ordered by seniority)
56th Senate: ▌T. Platt (R) · ▌C. Depew (R) House:
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