Samuel Untermyer

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Samuel Untermyer (1858-1940), American lawyer and civic leader.

Born in Lynchburg, Virginia, March 6, 1858 to Isadore and Therese Untermyer. His father who had been a lieutenant in the Confederate Army died soon after the close of the Civil War. The family then moved to New York.

He was the father of Irwin Untermyer. Democrat. Lawyer. Graduate Columbia Law School, 1878.

After receiving his LL.B. in 1878 he was admitted to the bar, and started practice with his half-brother Randolph Guggenheimer. A younger brother Maurice Untermyer was later admitted, and then in 1895 Louis Marshall joined and the name was changed to Guggenheimer, Untermyer & Marshall. The same name it held for other 45 years.

He was a delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1904, 1908, 1912, 1916, 1932, 1936; delegate to New York state constitutional convention, 1938. He served as counsel to the congressional committee headed by Arsene Pujo that investigated (1912) money trusts, and to the Lockwood committee of the New York legislature, which probed (1921–22) statewide housing conditions. As special counsel until 1933 in the famous New York City transit suits, he helped maintain the five-cent subway fare. In 1933, he founded and was the president of the American League for the Defense of Jewish Rights in 1933 when it launched a boycott of German imported goods, as an anti-Nazi statement. The name was changed to the Non-Sectarian Anti-Nazi League to Champion Human Rights, that same year. He resigned in 1938 citing ill-health. He recommended as his successor, Dr. Abba Hillel Silver of Cleveland. Member of the American Bar Association. Resident of New York, New York and Yonkers, New York. Died March 16, 1940. He died at Palm Springs, California. Interment at Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, New York.

He expressed his philosophy in these words:

"If I correctly appraise the trend of the times, the days of great fortunes and the exploitation of labor are over. Labor is about to receive a more just share of the wealth which it creates, but the principles of capitalism will survive."

His obituary was published in the New York Times (Mar 17, 1940, pg 1). He had married Aug. 9, 1880 to Miss Minnie Carl, daughter of Mairelius Carl of New York City. He was survived by his sons, Capt Alvin Untermyer, who had served in the 305th Field Artillery in France during the War; Irwin Untermyer, a justice of the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court, and by his daughter Mrs. Irene Richter wife of Stanley Richter.

"Untermyer was a staunch advocate of stock-market regulations, government ownership of railroads, and various legal reforms. A leading crusader against anti-Semitism, Untermyer was active in the movement to boycott Germany after Hitler rose to power."

Untermyer Park in Yonkers, New York is named for him.[1]