Edward Thompson (July 19, 1913 – August 5, 1995) was appointed the 19th Fire Commissioner of the
City of New York by Mayor
Robert F. Wagner
Robert Ferdinand Wagner I (June 8, 1877May 4, 1953) was an American politician. He was a Democratic U.S. Senator from New York from 1927 to 1949.
Born in Prussia, Wagner migrated with his family to the United States in 1885. After graduating ...
on January 1, 1962, and served in that position until his resignation on August 6, 1964.
The FDNY has named a medal for Outstanding Courage in his honor.
Biography
He was born in
Queens, New York
Queens is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Queens County, in the U.S. state of New York. Located on Long Island, it is the largest New York City borough by area. It is bordered by the borough of Brooklyn at the western tip of Long I ...
on July 19, 1913, to Herman Thompson and Gertrude Emma Baatz. While attending the
Brooklyn Law School
Brooklyn Law School (BLS) is a private law school in New York City. Founded in 1901, it has approximately 1,100 students. Brooklyn Law School's faculty includes 60 full-time faculty, 15 emeriti faculty, and a number of adjunct faculty.
Brookly ...
in 1936 he became a probationary firefighter, later being promoted to a lieutenant in a
hook-and-ladder company. In 1938 Mayor
Fiorello La Guardia
Fiorello Henry LaGuardia (; born Fiorello Enrico LaGuardia, ; December 11, 1882September 20, 1947) was an American attorney and politician who represented New York in the House of Representatives and served as the 99th Mayor of New York City fro ...
appointed him as an assistant legal counsel to the
New York City Fire Department where he prosecuted fire-code violators.
[
He was appointed the 19th ]New York City Fire Commissioner
The New York City Fire Commissioner is the civilian administrator of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), appointed by the Mayor of the City of New York. There have been 34 commissioners excluding Acting Fire Commissioners, and 38 commission ...
by Mayor Robert F. Wagner
Robert Ferdinand Wagner I (June 8, 1877May 4, 1953) was an American politician. He was a Democratic U.S. Senator from New York from 1927 to 1949.
Born in Prussia, Wagner migrated with his family to the United States in 1885. After graduating ...
on January 1, 1962, and he served in that position until his resignation on August 6, 1964.[
He died on August 5, 1995, in Babylon, New York of cancer.]
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thompson, Edward
Brooklyn Law School alumni
Commissioners of the New York City Fire Department
1913 births
1995 deaths