Edwin Corning Jr.

Corning in the 1939 Yale University yearbook

Edwin Corning Jr. was born in Albany, New York on September 26, 1919,[1] the son of Edwin Corning and Louise (Maxwell) Corning.[2] He was educated at The Albany Academy and the Groton School and was a 1942 graduate of Yale College.[1][2]

Corning joined the United States Navy for World War II.[2] He enlisted in 1942, and received a commission as an ensign.[2] Corning participated in combat in the Pacific theater, and attained the rank of lieutenant before receiving his discharge in 1946.[2] In January 1946, Corning's name appeared among a list of Navy officers who were passengers aboard USS LST 589 when it sailed from Qingdao to Shanghai.[3]

Corning as a Navy ensign in 1942

After the war, Corning returned to Albany, where he became active in the Albany Associates insurance agency, a Corning family business.[2] He became vice president of the company, in addition to serving on its board of directors.[2] He also served as a director of several other companies, including the Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation and Albany's First Trust Company.[2]

A Democrat, in 1954, Corning was the successful nominee to represent Albany County's first district in the New York State Assembly.[2] He was reelected in 1956 and 1958, and served from January 1955 until resigning in August 1959.[2]

In May, 1959, Corning was involved in a car accident on U.S. Route 9 near Boght Corners.[4] He sustained severe injuries and was hospitalized for several months.[5][6] Citing the amount of time he needed to devote to his recovery, Corning resigned his Assembly seat in order to give officials the opportunity to hold a special election prior to the start of the next session in January 1960, thus ensuring that his district would continue to be represented.[7]

After his car accident, Corning curtailed most of his business and political activities, and was a resident of Clarksville.[2] He died at his home in Clarksville on January 31, 1964, and was buried at Albany Rural Cemetery in Menands, New York.[2]

In 1950, Corning married Barbara May Thomson (1923-2012).[8] They were the parents of two children, daughter Jamie and son Edwin.[2]

Corning's family was long prominent in Albany-area politics and business.[2] In addition to his father's service as Lieutenant Governor of New York, Corning's brother Erastus Corning 2nd was the longtime mayor of Albany.[2] His uncle Parker Corning served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from New York for 14 years.[9] Corning's great-grandfather, Amasa J. Parker served in Congress and enjoyed a long career as a state court judge.[10] Another great-grandfather, Erastus Corning was a member of Congress and mayor of Albany.[11]