Charles Edison

Charles Edison (born August 3, 1890 in West Orange , New Jersey , † July 31, 1969 in New York City ) was an American politician and governor of the state of New Jersey from 1941 to 1944 . He previously served as Secretary of the Navy under President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1940 .

Early years and economic advancement

Charles Edison around 1900

Charles Edison was a son of Thomas Alva Edison . He attended the Carteret Academy and the Hotchkiss School in Connecticut . He then studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) until 1913 . After completing his studies, he worked for his family's company, Thomas A. Edison, Inc. , of which he became president in 1927. He held this office until 1957, when the company merged with the McCraw Electric Company ; until 1961 he remained on the supervisory board of the new company.

Political career

Contrary to family tradition, Edison was a member of the Democratic Party . In the 1930s he was in New Jersey head of the National Emergency Council . In 1937 he became the United States' Deputy Secretary of the Navy. Between January 2 and June 24, 1940, he was Secretary of the Navy in the Roosevelt Cabinet . During this time he suggested the construction of the Iowa class among the battleships that were then used in World War II . He resigned from office in June to focus on his campaign for governor of New Jersey. On November 5, 1940 he was elected as the new governor.

Governor of New Jersey

During his tenure, the anti-discrimination laws were tightened and an arbitration committee was set up. In addition, a reform of the state constitution was discussed at the time. However, these plans cannot yet be implemented politically. Otherwise, Edison's reign was overshadowed by the events of World War II. Since December 1941, war-related measures had to be taken in New Jersey as well. In this context, the budget of the National Guard was also increased. Young men were mustered and sent to the armed forces, and industrial production was converted to armaments.

Another résumé

After his term in office, Edison withdrew from politics. But he remained active in his company. In 1948 he set up a charity foundation that came to be known as the Charles Edison Fund. In 1967 he was involved in the establishment of a foundation for the benefit of young people, which later bore the name "Charles Edison Memorial Youth Fund" after him. In 1962, Edison was one of the founders of the Conservative Party in New York State . Charles Edison died on July 31, 1969. He was married to Carolyn Hawkins.

Web links

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personal data
SURNAME	Edison, Charles
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	American politician
DATE OF BIRTH	August 3, 1890
PLACE OF BIRTH	West Orange , New Jersey
DATE OF DEATH	July 31, 1969
Place of death	New York City