Edwin Corning Jr. | |
|---|---|
 Albany Art Union photo, 1958 | |
| Member of the New York State Assembly from Albany County's 1st District | |
| In office January 1, 1955 – August 26, 1959 | |
| Preceded by | D-Cady Herrick 2nd |
| Succeeded by | Frank P. Cox |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 26, 1919 Albany, New York |
| Died | January 31, 1964 (aged 44) Clarksville, New York |
| Resting place | Albany Rural Cemetery, Menands, New York |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Barbara May Thomson (m. 1950-1964, his death) |
| Relations | Erastus Corning 2nd (brother) Parker Corning (uncle) Erastus Corning (great-grandfather) Amasa J. Parker (great-grandfather) |
| Children | 2 |
| Parent(s) | Edwin Corning Louise Maxwell Corning |
| Alma mater | Yale University |
| Profession | Business executive |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1942-1946 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Battles/wars | Pacific theater |
Edwin Corning Jr. (September 26, 1919 - January 31, 1964) was an American businessman, United States Navy officer and Democratic politician from Albany, New York. A member of the prominent Corning family, he was most notable for his service as a member of the New York State Assembly from 1955 to 1959.
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Edwin Corning Jr. was born in Albany, New York on September 26, 1919,[1] the son of Edwin Corning and Louise (Maxwell) Corning.[2] He was educated at The Albany Academy and the Groton School and was a 1942 graduate of Yale College.[1][2]
Corning joined the United States Navy for World War II.[2] He enlisted in 1942, and received a commission as an ensign.[2] Corning participated in combat in the Pacific theater, and attained the rank of lieutenant before receiving his discharge in 1946.[2] In January 1946, Corning's name appeared among a list of Navy officers who were passengers aboard USS LST 589 when it sailed from Qingdao to Shanghai.[3]
_as_a_WW_II_US_Navy_officer_in_1942.jpg)
After the war, Corning returned to Albany, where he became active in the Albany Associates insurance agency, a Corning family business.[2] He became vice president of the company, in addition to serving on its board of directors.[2] He also served as a director of several other companies, including the Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation and Albany's First Trust Company.[2]
A Democrat, in 1954, Corning was the successful nominee to represent Albany County's first district in the New York State Assembly.[2] He was reelected in 1956 and 1958, and served from January 1955 until resigning in August 1959.[2]
In May, 1959, Corning was involved in a car accident on U.S. Route 9 near Boght Corners.[4] He sustained severe injuries and was hospitalized for several months.[5][6] Citing the amount of time he needed to devote to his recovery, Corning resigned his Assembly seat in order to give officials the opportunity to hold a special election prior to the start of the next session in January 1960, thus ensuring that his district would continue to be represented.[7]
After his car accident, Corning curtailed most of his business and political activities, and was a resident of Clarksville.[2] He died at his home in Clarksville on January 31, 1964, and was buried at Albany Rural Cemetery in Menands, New York.[2]
In 1950, Corning married Barbara May Thomson (1923-2012).[8] They were the parents of two children, daughter Jamie and son Edwin.[2]
Corning's family was long prominent in Albany-area politics and business.[2] In addition to his father's service as Lieutenant Governor of New York, Corning's brother Erastus Corning 2nd was the longtime mayor of Albany.[2] His uncle Parker Corning served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from New York for 14 years.[9] Corning's great-grandfather, Amasa J. Parker served in Congress and enjoyed a long career as a state court judge.[10] Another great-grandfather, Erastus Corning was a member of Congress and mayor of Albany.[11]