Background
Adamson, Robert was born on March 31, 1871 in Adamson’s District, Georgia, United States. Son of Augustus Pitt and Martilla Ellen (Cook) Adamson.
journalist New York City Fire Commissioner
Adamson, Robert was born on March 31, 1871 in Adamson’s District, Georgia, United States. Son of Augustus Pitt and Martilla Ellen (Cook) Adamson.
Educational public schools of Georgia.
He began writing articles for the Macon, Georgia newspaper while still in his teens. At age 20, he became city editor of the Atlanta Constitution. He later moved to New York City and worked as a reporter for The New York Sun, the New York World, and the Brooklyn Eagle.
In 1910, Adamson became secretary to New York Mayor William Jay Gaynor, and gained fame by helping thwart an assassination attempt on Gaynor.
When Gaynor died in September 1910, Adamson continued as secretary to the new mayor, Ardolph Loges Kline. In 1914, he was campaign manager for John Purroy Mitchel.
In 1914 Mitchel appointed Adamson as the 9th Fire Commissioner of the City of New New York Adamson served in that position until the end of the Mitchel Administration on December 31, 1917.
During his tenure he worked to have the entire department motorized.
He also proposed a modern fire alarm system for the city. Adamson unsuccessfully ran for the New York Board of Aldermen in 1917. He then left politics to work in banking and public relations.
He died of a heart attack in Manhattan, New York City on September 19, 1935.
Member Committee on Blighted Areas and Slums of President's Conference on Home Building and Home Ownership. Member New York Chamber of Commerce. Member Georgia Society of New York, Southern Society, Pilgrims.
Clubs: Bankers, Uptown, Rumson Country.
Married Ethel McClintock, December 10, 1902.