Background
Edgar Joshua Nathan, Junior. was born in New York, New York on August 28, 1891.
Edgar Joshua Nathan, Junior. was born in New York, New York on August 28, 1891.
He graduated from Williams College in 1913 and Columbia University Law School in 1916 From 1916 to 1941 he practiced law in New York City at the firm of Cardozo and Nathan, which included several relatives, including his cousin Benjamin North. Cardozo.
During World War I Nathan worked in Washington, District of Columbia as an attorney for the War Trade Board. In 1938 he was an unsuccessful candidate for the New York Supreme Court. During World World War II Nathan was involved in the city"s civil defense effort and was a leader of bond drives, metal salvage events and other activities.
In 1946 Governor of New York Thomas East. Dewey appointed Nathan to the New York State Supreme Court.
The State Judicial Conference certified Nathan for continued service after he reached the mandatory retirement age for judges of 70, and he remained on the bench until his death. Nathan died in New York City on April 30, 1965.
He was buried in Congregation Shearith Israel"s Third Cemetery on West 21st Street. Nathan was descended from Abraham de Lucena, one of the first 13 Jewish immigrants to the United States.
In addition, his ancestors included Rabbi Gershom Mendes Seixas, who founded New York City"s Shearith Israel congregation in 1654.
Nathan was President of Shearith Israel from 1951 until his death. Another Nathan ancestor from his Seixas line, Benjamin M. Seixas, served as an officer of the New York Militia during the American Revolution. As a result, Nathan was able to join the Sons of the American Revolution.
In addition to being related to Benjamin Cardozo, Nathan was also a cousin of Emma Lazarus.