Origins & Early Life

Fiorello Henry La Guardia (born Fiorello Raffaele Enrico La Guardia; December 11, 1882 – September 20, 1947) was an American attorney and politician who served as the 100th mayor of New York City from 1934 to 1946. He previously represented New York in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1917 to 1919 and again from 1923 to 1933. He was known for his irascible, energetic, and charismatic personality and diminutive, rotund stature.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

A progressive member of the Republican Party, La Guardia was frequently cross-endorsed by parties other than his own, especially parties on the left under New York's electoral fusion laws. A panel of 69 scholars in 1993 ranked him as the best big city mayor in American history. Born to a family of Italian immigrants in New York City, La Guardia quickly became interested in politics at a young age. Before his mayoralty, La Guardia represented Manhattan in the U.S. House of Representatives and later served in the New York City Board of Aldermen.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Amidst the Great Depression, La Guardia campaigned on his support for Franklin D. Roosevelt and his New Deal programs and won the 1933 election. As mayor during the Great Depression and World War II, La Guardia unified...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• A. A. Milne — Contemporary (Born in 1882) (1882): Celebrated English author, famed for Winnie-the-Pooh and children's literature.
• Éamon de Valera — Contemporary (Born in 1882) (1882): Dominant Irish statesman, leading figure in the establishment of modern Irish governance.
• Anna Pavlova — Contemporary (Born in 1882) (1882): Iconic Russian prima ballerina, famed for 'The Dying Swan' and global tours.
• Al Capone — Contemporary (Died in 1947) (1947): Notorious American gangster and businessman during the Prohibition era.
• Alan Guth — Contemporary (Born in 1947) (1947): Pioneering cosmologist known for developing the theory of cosmic inflation.
• Alan Sugar — Contemporary (Born in 1947) (1947): Pioneering British entrepreneur, founder of Amstrad, and TV personality.
• Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn — Shared historical date (12-11 · Born) (1918): Dissident author who exposed Soviet repression, notably the Gulag system.
• Anne Rice — Shared historical date (12-11 · Died) (2021): Pioneering Gothic and Erotic Fiction, best known for The Vampire Chronicles.
• Annie Besant — Shared historical date (09-20 · Died) (1933): Activist, writer, and Theosophist championing social reform and self-rule.
• Chulalongkorn — Shared historical date (09-20 · Born) (1853): Modernizer of Siam, ensuring its independence through sweeping reforms.
• 1882 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1882
• December 11 (12-11) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on December 11
• 1947 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1947
• September 20 (09-20) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on September 20