John J. Bennett Jr.

John James Bennett (March 2, 1894 Brooklyn, Kings County, New York – October 4, 1967, Brooklyn, Kings County, New York) was an American lawyer and politician.

John James Bennett, Jr.
56th New York State Attorney General
In office 1931–1942
Governor	Franklin D. Roosevelt Herbert H. Lehman
Preceded by	Hamilton Ward Jr.
Succeeded by	Nathaniel L. Goldstein
Personal details
Born	2 March 1894 Brooklyn, New York
Died	4 October 1967 (aged 73) Brooklyn, New York
Cause of death	Heart Attack
Resting place	Brooklyn, New York
Nationality	American
Education	St. Francis College (BA) Brooklyn Law School (LLB)
Occupation	Lawyer politician
Military service
Branch/service	United States Army
Battles/wars	WWI WWII

Life

Bennett was educated in Brooklyn's public and parochial schools. He was an alumnus of St. Francis College in Brooklyn Heights.[1] Bennett enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in France during World War I as a member of the 77th Infantry Division's 308th Infantry Regiment. He also served as state commander of the American Legion.[2]

In 1923 Bennett received a law degree from Brooklyn Law School and became an attorney in Brooklyn, also working as a professor at his alma mater.[3]

He was New York State Attorney General from 1931 to 1942, elected in 1930, 1932, 1934, 1936 and 1938. He was a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1938. He was a delegate to the 1940 Democratic National Convention. In 1942, he was the Democratic candidate for Governor of New York, but was defeated by Republican Thomas E. Dewey.

During World War II Bennett served in Europe with Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF).

He also served as Deputy Mayor of New York City, Corporation Counsel of the City of New York, Chief Justice of the Court of Special Sessions, and Chairman of the New York City Planning Commission.

In 1961, Bennett was named associate professor of government at his alma mater, St. Francis College.[1] At the time he was also a partner at the law firm of Barr, Bennett, and Fuller.[1] Bennett died of a heart attack at his Brooklyn home.[4]

He was buried at the Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Brooklyn.

References

1. "Ex-Attorney General Named". New York Times. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
2. Bennett Reported M'Cooey Candidate; State Legion Head Is Said to Be His Choice for Nomination for Attorney General, New York Times, September 19, 1930
3. The American Catholic Who's Who, published by Walter Romig, Volume 7, 1946-1947, page 19
4. Newspaper article, John J. Bennett, Lawyer, Dead, New York Times, October 5, 1967

Sources

• Political Graveyard entry, John J. Bennett Jr.
• John J. Bennett at Find a Grave