Francis W. Martin

Francis W. Martin (October 3, 1878 – June 1, 1947) was the first ever district attorney in Bronx County, New York and a judge on the New York Supreme Court from 1921 until his death.[1]

Francis W. Martin
Bronx County District Attorney
In office
January 1, 1914 – December 31, 1920
Preceded bynone
Succeeded byEdward J. Glennon
Personal details
Born(1878-10-03)October 3, 1878
Watervliet, New York
DiedJune 1, 1947(1947-06-01) (aged 68)
The Bronx, New York City
Resting placeWoodlawn Cemetery (Bronx, New York)
NationalityAmerican
Political partyDemocratic Party
SpouseEdith Rowan Martin
ChildrenEdith Martin Burke, Francis W. Martin Jr.
Parent(s)Dennis Martin and Catherine Martin née Keegan
Alma materNew York Law School
Occupationlawyer, district attorney, judge
Known forInaugural District Attorney of Bronx County

Personal life and early career

Martin was born on October 3, 1878, to Dennis Martin and Catherine Martin née Keegan in Watervliet, New York, and grew up there. He graduated from New York Law School in 1902, and the following year moved to 2150 University Avenue in the Bronx, where he lived the remainder of his life. In 1905 he became an assistant corporation counsel for the New York City Law Department, and compiled such a good record in legal cases that when the Bronx was made a county, he received the backing of several bar groups, and more importantly, the Democratic party in the Bronx, for the office of Bronx County District Attorney. In the first election for county-wide positions in the Bronx on November 4, 1913, he won the district attorney election,[2] and took office on January 1, 1914[3] the date the Bronx became a county. His initial salary was $10,000 per year.[4]

District attorney

Martin's record as district attorney was that of aggressive law enforcement, most notably against organized crime.[1] In 1920, he stepped down from the district attorney's office to run for a seat as a judge on the New York State Supreme Court, and won.[5][6] In 1923, he was named to the Appellate Division by Governor Al Smith,[7] and in 1934 he was re-elected as a justice.[8] In 1935, he was appointed as presiding justice of the Appellate Division by Governor Herbert H. Lehman.[9][10] Martin also served as a state delegate to the New York Constitutional Conventions of 1915 and 1938.[1]

Death

Martin died unexpectedly at home on June 1, 1947,[1] and is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx.[11]

Lifelong home of Francis W. Martin before being demolished and replaced by a library.
NYPL Bronx Francis W. Martin Branch Library built on the site of Francis W. Martin's former home.

References
  1. "Francis Martin, Jurist, Dies at 68 – Presiding Justice of Appellate Division Since 1935, Member of State Court 26 Years – Named to Unit by Smith – District Attorney in the Bronx from 1913 to 1920, Making High Record of Convictions". New York Times. June 2, 1947. p. 25. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  2. "Not One Seat In Board Of Estimate Saved to Tammany — Fusion Alderman Also — McAneny and Prendergast In Safely with Other Fusion Borough Heads — Close in New York County — With Just a Possibility at Midnight That Murphy May Save It — Neck and Neck in Bronx — Matthewson, (Rep.,) May Have Beaten Tammany and Third Ticket Up There — Queens Easy for Connolly — Brooklyn Gave Fusion 54,808 Plurality — Republicans Carry County — Prendergast's Vote Cut". The New York Times. November 5, 1913. p. 1. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
  3. "Bronx Officials Appoint – Nearly Every Place Getter on City or State Payroll Now". The New York Times. December 31, 1913. p. 2. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  4. "The City Record – Official Journal of the City of New York". XLII (IX). New York, N.Y.: M.B. Brown Printing & Binding. September 1914: 7451. Retrieved 15 May 2016. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  5. "The City Vote — Hylan's Plurality 417,986 – Craig's 249,252 – Banton's 83,680". The New York Times. November 10, 1921. p. 4. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  6. "Names Talley Judge Of General Sessions – Governor Smith Also Appoints Edward J. Glennon Bronx District Attorney – G.W. Martin County Judge – All the Appointees Allied With Tammany Hall – Talley's Selection Not Expected". The New York Times. December 29, 1920. p. 16. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  7. "Governor Begins Hearings On Bills – Listens to Arguments on Measure Taxing Premiums on Insurance in Foreign Companies – Takes Up Lusk Laws Today – Act Extending Tax Exemption to Three-Story Dwellings for a Year Approved by Smith". The New York Times. May 22, 1923. p. 21. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  8. "Kadien Defeats Strong For Bench – Democrat Elected a Supreme Court Justice in Second District Contest – O'Brien and Church Lead – Have Margin Over Republicans in the First District – Others Unopposed". The New York Times. November 7, 1934. p. 10. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  9. "F.W. Martin Installation Today". The New York Times. January 2, 1935. p. 15. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  10. "Martin Inducted As Head Of Court – Appellate Bench's Presiding Justice Praised by Miller, Seabury, Colby and Others – 500 View The Ceremony – Appointee, Citing His Division's Swift Work, Laments Other Tribunals' Congestion". The New York Times. January 3, 1935. p. 10. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  11. "Mayor And Jurists At Martin Funeral – Bishop J. P. Donahue Presides at Mass – 1,200 Hear Rites in St. Vincent Ferrer's". The New York Times. June 5, 1947. p. 25. Retrieved 17 May 2016.

Francis W. Martin at Find a Grave

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