Introduction
Edwin Corning (September 30, 1883 – August 7, 1934) was an American businessman and politician from New York. He was Lieutenant Governor of New York from 1927 to 1928.
Early life
Corning's father was Erastus Corning (1827–1897) and his paternal grandfather was Erastus Corning. His mother was Mary (Parker) Corning, the daughter of Amasa J. Parker. He was educated at The Albany Academy and the Groton School, and graduated from Yale University in 1906. He was an executive at the Ludlum Steel Company in Watervliet, New York, and became its President in 1910. He was also an officer of the Albany Felt Company, and served on the board of directors of several Albany banks. Corning was also a gentleman farmer, and bred prize winning horses, sheep and cows. In addition, he was a dog breeder, and became known for his champion Irish wolfhounds.
Political career
In the years immediately after World War I, Corning collaborated with Daniel P. O'Connell to create a Democratic organization in Albany that could wrest control of the city from the Republican organization run by William Barnes; their strategy was to run wealthy non-ethnic Protestants like Edwin Corning, William Stormont Hackett, Parker Corning, and Erastus Corning 2nd for major offices including mayor and Congressman to enhance the respectability and credibility of a Democratic organization run by working class Irish-American, Catholic figures like O'Connell. Corning became chairman of the Albany County Democratic Committee in 1912 and chairman of the county committee's executive committee in 1919. In the 1921 contest for mayor, the O'Connell/Corning organization succeeded in electing Hackett, the beginning of Democratic control of city hall that has remained in place ever since.
Corning was Chairman of the New York State Democratic Committee from 1926 to 1928. He was Lieutenant Governor of New York from 1927 to 1928, elected on the Democratic ticket with Governor Alfred E. Smith in 1926. In 1928, when Smith planned to run for President, the Albany Democratic organization intended to run Hackett for governor. After Hackett's death in a car accident, Corning considered making the campaign, but declined because of ill health. After his term as lieutenant governor he retired from his business and political interests.
Death and burial
He died on a hospital operating table in Bar Harbor, Maine during a second leg amputation, which was necessary because of gangrene derived from diabetes. He was buried at the Albany Rural Cemetery in Menands, New York.
Family
On November 25, 1908, he married Louise Maxwell. and their children were Erastus Corning 2nd, Louise Corning, Harriet Corning and Edwin Corning, Jr. (September 26, 1919 – January 31, 1964).
Erastus Corning 2nd served as Mayor of Albany for over 40 years.
Edwin Corning, Jr. was serving in the New York State Assembly when he was involved in a 1959 car accident. He resigned his Assembly seat, and died without recovering fully.
Edwin Corning's brother Parker Corning served as a member of the United States House of Representatives. His grandfathers Erastus Corning and Amasa J. Parker also served in Congress.
External sources
- Political Graveyard
- Bio at NY History, USGenNet
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Herbert C. Pell |
New York State Democratic Committee Chairman January 1926 – August 1928 |
Succeeded by M. William Bray |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Seymour Lowman |
Lieutenant Governor of New York January 1, 1927 – December 31, 1928 |
Succeeded by Herbert H. Lehman |