William M. Feigenbaum

William M. Feigenbaum (1918)

William Morris Feigenbaum (December 25, 1886 – April 23, 1949) was an American statistician, journalist and politician from New York.

Life

He was born on December 25, 1886, in Antwerp, Belgium, the son of Benjamin Feigenbaum (1859–1932)^[1] and Matilda (Kaminsky) Feigenbaum, both originally from Warsaw. The family emigrated to the United States and settled in Brooklyn where he attended the public schools and Boys High School. He graduated A.B. from Columbia College in 1907, and A.M. from Columbia University in 1908. He also took courses at Dartmouth College, Wisconsin University and National University School of Law. From 1909 to 1912, he worked in the Bureau of Statistics and Accounts of the Interstate Commerce Commission in Washington, D.C.. In 1912, he returned to New York and worked for the New York Public Service Commission (1st D.).^[2]

He was a member of the Socialist Party of America. In November 1916, he ran for Congress in the 10th District, but was defeated by the incumbent Republican Reuben L. Haskell.^[3]

In November 1917, he was elected to the New York State Assembly (Kings Co., 6th D.), defeating the incumbent Republican Nathan D. Shapiro. Feigenbaum polled 3,694 votes, Shapiro polled 3,184 votes, and Democrat Martin Solomon polled 2,217.^[4] Feigenbaum was one of ten Socialist members of the 141st New York State Legislature in 1918.

Afterwards he became the associated editor of The New Leader, and wrote for several newspapers and political magazines.

In 1930^[1] and 1932,^[5] he ran for the New York State Senate (4th D.) but was defeated both times by Democrat Philip M. Kleinfeld.

He died on April 23, 1949, at the Montgomery Nursing Home in Brooklyn.^[6]

References

1. Feigenbaum Dies; Pioneer Socialist; Had Been Long Ill in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle on November 10, 1932
2. New York Red Book (1918; pg. 148)
3. BROOKLYN VETERANS WILL BE MISSED AT ALBANY THIS WINTER; Three Socialists from Brooklyn in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle on December 23, 1917
4. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle Almanac (1918; pg. 473)
5. SOCIALISTS TO PUSH STATE SENATE RACE in the New York Times on August 16, 1933 (subscription required)
6. W. Feigenbaum, Newsman, Politico in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle on April 24, 1949