Origins & Early Life

Carlo Gambino (Italian: [ˈkarlo ɡamˈbiːno]; August 24, 1902 – October 15, 1976) was a Sicilian crime boss who was the leader and namesake of the Gambino crime family of New York City. Following the Apalachin Meeting in 1957, and the imprisonment of Vito Genovese in 1959, Gambino took over the Commission of the American Mafia and played a powerful role in organized crime until his death from a heart attack in 1976. During a criminal career that spanned over fifty years, Gambino served only twenty-two months in prison, for a tax evasion charge in 1937. Carlo Gambino was born in Palermo, Sicily, Italy, on August 24, 1902, to a family that belonged to the Sicilian Mafia from the Passo di Rigano neighborhood.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He had two brothers: Gaspare, who was not involved with the Mafia; and Paolo, who was a part of what would become the Gambino crime family. His parents were Italian immigrants Tommaso Gambino and Felice Castellano. Gambino entered the United States on December 23, 1921, at Norfolk, Virginia, as a stowaway on the SS Vincenzo Florio. He made his way to New York City to join his cousins, the Castellanos, and worked for a small trucking firm owned by their family...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abe Saperstein — Contemporary (Born in 1902) (1902): Founder of the Harlem Globetrotters, revolutionized black basketball.
• Alfred Kastler — Contemporary (Born in 1902) (1902): Pioneering physicist known for developing the technique of optical pumping.
• Allen Lane — Contemporary (Born in 1902) (1902): Pioneering British publisher who founded Penguin Books, bringing literature to the masses.
• A Day at the Races (album) — Contemporary (Born in 1976) (1976): Queen's fifth studio album, a companion piece to A Night at the Opera.
• Adolph Zukor — Contemporary (Died in 1976) (1976): Pioneering Hungarian-American film producer, co-founder of Paramount Pictures.
• Agatha Christie — Contemporary (Died in 1976) (1976): The 'Queen of Crime,' a master of the mystery genre, best-selling author of all time.
• Andy Hug — Shared historical date (08-24 · Died) (2000): Legendary Swiss kickboxer known for his unique, powerful, and acrobatic striking style.
• Bayard Rustin — Shared historical date (08-24 · Died) (1987): Pioneering organizer of nonviolence, civil rights, and socialist movements.
• A. P. J. Abdul Kalam — Shared historical date (10-15 · Born) (1931): Visionary aerospace engineer, scientist, and former President of India.
• Abd al-Rahman III — Shared historical date (10-15 · Died) (961): Founder of the Caliphate of Córdoba, a period of immense Islamic cultural zenith.
• 1902 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1902
• August 24 (08-24) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on August 24
• 1976 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1976
• October 15 (10-15) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on October 15