George M. Palmer

George M. Palmer (1895)

George M. Palmer (born September 20, 1857) was an American lawyer and politician from New York.

Life

He was born on September 20, 1857,^[1] in Richmondville, Schoharie County, New York, the son of James Palmer (died 1906).^[2] He attended the public schools, and graduated from the State Normal College in 1877. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1882, and practiced law in Cobleskill.^[3]

Palmer was a member of the New York State Assembly (Schoharie Co.) in 1897, 1898 and 1899; and was Minority Leader in 1899.

He was again a member of the State Assembly in 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905 and 1906; and was Minority Leader from 1902 to 1906. On July 14, 1906, he married Mary Corry.^[4] On October 2, 1906, he ran for re-nomination but, because of his opposition to William Randolph Hearst, Palmer was defeated at the Democratic county convention by Charles H. Holmes.^[5]

Palmer was again a member of the State Assembly in 1908; and was Minority Leader. At the New York state election, 1908, he ran on the Democratic ticket for New York Attorney General, but was defeated by Republican Edward R. O'Malley.

On February 16, 1912, Palmer was elected as Chairman of the New York State Democratic Committee.^[6] On January 30, 1914, Palmer denied that he would step down as State Chairman.^[7] On February 19, he announced his resignation, to take effect on March 2 when William Church Osborn should be elected as his successor. At the same time he stated that he expected to be appointed as Counsel to the New York State Workmen's Compensation Commission.^[8] The deal fell through when on August 13, 1914, Jeremiah F. Connor was appointed as Counsel.^[9]

Sources

1. Historical Souvenir of Cobleskill in "Grip's" Valley Gazette(Albany NY, June 1895; Vol. III, No. 5, pg. 11)
2. Obituary Notes; JAMES PALMER, father of Assemblyman George M. Palmer... in the New York Times on September 1, 1906
3. New York Red Book (1897; pg. 248)
4. GEORGE M. PALMER MARRIED in the New York Times on July 15, 1906
5. GEORGE M. PALMER OUT in the New York Times on October 3, 1906
6. TAMMANY HITS DIX IN NAMING PALMER in the New York Times on February 18, 1912
7. WON'T QUIT, SAYS PALMER in the New York Times on January 31, 1914
8. PALMER TO RESIGN AS STATE CHAIRMAN in the New York Times on February 20, 1914
9. NAME CONNOR, NOT PALMER

New York State Assembly
Preceded by David Enders	New York State Assembly Schoharie County 1897–1899	Succeeded by Daniel D. Frisbie
Preceded by Daniel D. Frisbie	New York State Assembly Schoharie County 1902–1906	Succeeded by Charles H. Holmes
Preceded by Charles H. Holmes	New York State Assembly Schoharie County 1908	Succeeded by Daniel D. Frisbie
Political offices
Preceded by Thomas F. Donnelly	Minority Leader in the New York State Assembly 1899	Succeeded by J. Franklin Barnes
Preceded by Daniel D. Frisbie	Minority Leader in the New York State Assembly 1902–1906	Succeeded by James Oliver
Preceded by James Oliver	Minority Leader in the New York State Assembly 1908	Succeeded by Daniel D. Frisbie
Party political offices
Preceded by William S. Jackson	Democratic nominee for Attorney General of New York 1908	Succeeded by Thomas Carmody
Preceded by Norman E. Mack	Chairman of the New York State Democratic Committee 1912–1914	Succeeded by William Church Osborn