George Lawrence Record (1859-September 27, 1933) was an American lawyer, activist, and politician from

Jersey City Jersey City is the second-most populous city in the U.S. state of New Jersey, after Newark.New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...

. He ran unsuccessfully for several offices, including

Governor of New Jersey The governor of New Jersey is the head of government of New Jersey. The office of governor is an elected position with a four-year term. There is a two consecutive term term limit, with no limitation on non-consecutive terms. The official res ...

and

United States Senator The United States Senate is the Upper house, upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the United States House of Representatives, House of Representatives being the Lower house, lower chamber. Together they compose the national Bica ...

. Though he lost all six of his attempts at elected office, Record held various state and municipal appointive offices and was a leading figure in the state's liberal progressive movement. He frequently brought suit against New Jersey public utilities as a consumer advocate and labor spokesman. In

Jersey City Jersey City is the second-most populous city in the U.S. state of New Jersey, after Newark.Mark M. Fagan against party boss Frank Hague.

Early life

George Lawrence Record was born in Auburn, Maine, in 1859. He attended public schools in Auburn and received his law degree from Bates College. In the late 1880s, he settled in

Jersey City Jersey City is the second-most populous city in the U.S. state of New Jersey, after Newark.William Jennings Bryan William Jennings Bryan (March 19, 1860 – July 26, 1925) was an American lawyer, orator and politician. Beginning in 1896, he emerged as a dominant force in the History of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, running ...

's campaign for

free silver Free silver was a major economic policy issue in the United States in the late 19th-century. Its advocates were in favor of an expansionary monetary policy featuring the unlimited coinage of silver into money on-demand, as opposed to strict adhe ...

. He joined the Republican Party and emerged as one of its leading progressives. In municipal politics, he remained aligned with the independent Democratic faction led by Mark M. Fagan. When Fagan was elected mayor of

Jersey City Jersey City is the second-most populous city in the U.S. state of New Jersey, after Newark.Republican National Convention The Republican National Convention (RNC) is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1856 by the United States Republican Party. They are administered by the Republican National Committee. The goal of the Repu ...

and a leading supporter of

Theodore Roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt Jr. ( ; October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919), often referred to as Teddy or by his initials, T. R., was an American politician, statesman, soldier, conservationist, naturalist, historian, and writer who served as the 26t ...

. After Roosevelt lost the nomination and left the party, Record became the leading spokesman of the Progressive Party in New Jersey. After that party collapsed, he rejoined the Republicans and was a presidential elector for Charles Evans Hughes in 1916.

Failed bids for office

He ran for the following offices: *

New Jersey Senate The New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. There are 40 legislative districts, representing districts with an average population of 232, ...

from Hudson County in 1901 * New Jersey General Assembly in 1908 * U.S. Representative in 1910 * U.S. Senate in 1918 (Republican primary) * U.S. Senate in 1922 (Republican primary) * U.S. Senate in 1924 (as Progressive nominee)

Death and burial

He died from a cerebral hemorrhage on September 27, 1933, in the State Street Hospital in Portland, Maine. He was buried in

Bayview – New York Bay Cemetery Bayview Cemetery, previously called Greenville Cemetery, is located in Jersey City, New Jersey. It merged with New York Bay Cemetery and is now known as Bayview – New York Bay Cemetery. History The cemetery was built in 1848. It is located in ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Record, George 1859 births 1933 deaths Burials at Bayview – New York Bay Cemetery Politicians from Jersey City, New Jersey Politicians from Auburn, Maine New Jersey Republicans New Jersey Progressives (1912)