Bird Sim Coler (October 9, 1867 Urbana, Illinois – June 12, 1941 Brooklyn, New York) was an American stockbroker and politician from Brooklyn, New York. He served as the first New York City Comptroller after the city's 1898 consolidation and was the Democratic nominee for Governor of New York in 1902. He narrowly lost the election to Governor Benjamin Odell Jr.
Bird Sim Coler | |
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![]() Coler in 1908 | |
New York City Comptroller | |
In office 1898–1901 | |
Preceded by | Ashbel P. Fitch (pre-consolidation) |
Succeeded by | Edward M. Grout |
4th Brooklyn Borough President | |
In office January 1, 1906 – December 31, 1909 | |
Preceded by | Martin W. Littleton |
Succeeded by | Alfred E. Steers |
Personal details | |
Born | October 9, 1867 Urbana, Illinois, U.S. |
Died | June 12, 1941(1941-06-12) (aged 73) Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
Political party | Democratic Municipal Ownership League |
Spouse(s) | Emily Moore Coler |
Children | Eugene Bird Coler |
Coler was born on October 9, 1868, in Urbana, Illinois, the son of William N. Coler and wife. The elder Coler established a banking house after the Civil War and brought his family to Brooklyn.[1]
The younger Coler was educated at Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute.[1]
Coler and Emily Moore, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Moore, were married on October 1, 1888. He died on June 12, 1941, in Brooklyn, and she died on August 23, 1941, in the same hospital. They had a son, Eugene Bird Coler.[2][3]
He established himself as a stockbroker in New York City, became prominent in municipal and State politics, and was first Comptroller of Greater New York, from 1897 to 1901. In 1902, he was the Democratic nominee for Governor of New York, but lost to Benjamin B. Odell, Jr., by a small plurality in spite of his enormous lead in New York City. In 1905 he was elected president of the Borough of Brooklyn, on the Municipal Ownership ticket. In 1918, he ran unsuccessfully on the Democratic ticket for New York State Comptroller.
He was the author of Commercialism in Politics, Two and Two Make Four, He Made Them Twain, and other sociological works.[1]
Coler-Goldwater Specialty Hospital on Roosevelt Island bears his name.
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(help)Party political offices | ||
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Preceded by John B. Stanchfield |
Democratic nominee for Governor of New York 1902 |
Succeeded by D-Cady Herrick |
Political offices | ||
Preceded by New office |
New York City Comptroller 1898–1901 |
Succeeded by Edward M. Grout |
Political offices | ||
Preceded by Martin W. Littleton |
Borough President of Brooklyn 1906–1909 |
Succeeded by Alfred E. Steers |
Borough presidents of Brooklyn | ||
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New York City Comptrollers since the 1898 consolidation | ||
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General | |
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National libraries | |
Other |
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