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Edwin Corning Jr.

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Edwin Corning Jr.
Albany Art Union photo, 1958
Member of the New York State Assembly from Albany County's 1st District
In office
January 1, 1955 – August 26, 1959
Preceded byD-Cady Herrick 2nd
Succeeded byFrank P. Cox
Personal details
Born(1919-09-26)September 26, 1919
Albany, New York
DiedJanuary 31, 1964(1964-01-31) (aged 44)
Clarksville, New York
Resting placeAlbany Rural Cemetery, Menands, New York
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseBarbara May Thomson (m. 1950-1964, his death)
RelationsErastus Corning 2nd (brother)
Parker Corning (uncle)
Erastus Corning (great-grandfather)
Amasa J. Parker (great-grandfather)
Children2
Parent(s)Edwin Corning
Louise Maxwell Corning
Alma materYale University
ProfessionBusiness executive
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Navy
Years of service1942-1946
RankLieutenant
Battles/warsPacific theater

Edwin Corning Jr. (September 26, 1919 - January 31, 1964) was an American businessman, United States Navy officer and Democratic politician from Albany, New York. A member of the prominent Corning family, he was most notable for his service as a member of the New York State Assembly from 1955 to 1959.

Biography

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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]

Death and burial

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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]

Family

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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]

References

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  1. ^ a b The New York Red Book for 1957-58, p. 176.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Brother of Albany Mayor Dies", p. 5.
  3. ^ "U.S. World War II Navy Muster Rolls".
  4. ^ "Corning's Brother Badly Hurt Near Albany", p. 1.
  5. ^ "Corning Still Critical", p. 20.
  6. ^ "Corning Leaves Albany Hospital", p. 20.
  7. ^ "Corning Resigns as Assemblyman", p. 2.
  8. ^ "Wedding Announcement, Edwin Corning and Barbara May Thomson", p. 7A.
  9. ^ Mayor Erastus Corning: Albany Icon, Albany Enigma, pp. 40, 43, 52, 360.
  10. ^ Mayor Erastus Corning: Albany Icon, Albany Enigma, pp. 40, 43.
  11. ^ Mayor Erastus Corning: Albany Icon, Albany Enigma, pp. 40, 43, 52.

Sources

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Newspapers

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  • "Wedding Announcement, Edwin Corning and Barbara May Thomson". Poughkeepsie Journal. Poughkeepsie, NY. May 28, 1950 – via Newspapers.com.
  • "Corning's Brother Badly Hurt Near Albany". Poughkeepsie, NY. Associated Press. May 28, 1959 – via Newspapers.com.
  • "Corning Still Critical". The Times Record. Troy, NY. June 12, 1959 – via Newspapers.com.
  • "Corning Resigns as Assemblyman". Daily Freeman. Kingston, NY. Associated Press. August 27, 1959 – via Newspapers.com.
  • "Corning Leaves Albany Hospital". The Times Record. Troy, NY. October 6, 1959 – via Newspapers.com.
  • "Brother of Albany Mayor Dies". The Times Record. Troy, NY. February 1, 1964 – via Newspapers.com.

Books

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Internet

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