W. Arthur Cunningham

Cunningham was born in Manhattan, New York City, to Irish parents.[1][2] He grew up in Brooklyn, and attended St. James's Academy, graduating in 1910.[3] He received an L.L.B. degree from Fordham Law School in 1915, and was admitted to the bar the following year.[4]

Cunningham served in World War I as a Major of the 69th and later 165th Infantry Brigade of the United States Army in the American Expeditionary Forces[2][5][6] It was part of the 42nd, or Rainbow Division.[7] He fought the Germans in Lunéville, France, and in the Meuse–Argonne offensive.[8] He received the Croix de Guerre with Palm for conspicuous bravery and the Purple Heart decoration for military merit.[8][9][10][11]

He was later an officer of the Textile Banking Corporation, first as counsel and later as vice president until 1933.[12] He and his wife, the former Agnes Evelyn Quinn whom he married in 1927, and their two sons were residents of Forest Hills, Queens.[13][14]

Cunningham, an independent Democrat, successfully ran for the position of New York City Comptroller in 1933 on Mayor LaGuardia's Fusion ticket.[15][16][17][18] In his campaign he pledged to keep the 5-cent ($1.13 in current dollar terms) fare if feasible.[19] A soldier, businessman, and lawyer without any previous experience in politics.[7][4] After being sworn into office, Cunningham found the city deeply in debt.[20][21]

Cunningham died of a heart attack four months after taking office while riding a horse in Asharoken, Long Island with Raymond C. Ingersoll, son of Brooklyn Borough President Raymond V. Ingersoll, on May 5, 1934.[4][13] He was 39 years old.[13] Mayor LaGuardia ordered that flags be at half mast for ten days as a tribute to Cunningham.[13]

His body was buried in Calvary Cemetery near Long Island City.[6] Queens Borough President George U. Harvey, a friend, thought that Cunningham's death was caused in part by his worries about the city's problems.[22]