Representative Isaac Siegel

Isaac Siegel (April 12, 1880 – June 29, 1947) was a United States Representative from New York and a member of the Republican Party who served four consecutive terms in Congress from 1915 to 1923. He was born in New York City, New York, where he attended the public schools. Raised in the city he would later represent, Siegel’s early life and education were rooted in the urban environment and public institutions of New York.

Siegel pursued legal studies at New York University School of Law, from which he graduated in 1901. He was admitted to the bar on May 26, 1902, and commenced the practice of law in New York City shortly thereafter. Establishing himself as an attorney, he gained experience in the legal and political affairs of the state. In 1909 and 1910, he was appointed special deputy attorney general for the prosecution of election frauds, a role that placed him at the center of efforts to enforce election laws and safeguard the integrity of the electoral process in New York.

Building on his legal and public service experience, Siegel entered national politics as a Republican. He was elected as a Republican to the Sixty-fourth and to the three succeeding United States Congresses, serving from March 4, 1915, to March 3, 1923, as a Representative from New York. His service in Congress occurred during a significant period in American history, encompassing the First World War and the immediate postwar years. As a member of the House of Representatives, Isaac Siegel participated in the democratic process, contributed to the legislative work of the chamber, and represented the interests of his New York constituents over four terms in office.

During his congressional tenure, Siegel held important committee responsibilities. He served as chairman of the Committee on the Census during the Sixty-sixth and Sixty-seventh Congresses, overseeing matters related to the federal census at a time when population data were increasingly important for representation and public policy. In the context of World War I, he was a member of an overseas commission that visited France and Italy during July and August 1918, reflecting congressional engagement with America’s allies and the conduct of the war. He also played a role within his party’s broader national activities, serving as a delegate to the Republican National Conventions in 1916, 1920, 1924, and 1936. Siegel was not a candidate for renomination in 1922, bringing his continuous congressional service to a close in March 1923.

After leaving Congress, Siegel continued his involvement in public life and the law. On September 14, 1940, he was appointed to the bench as a justice of the domestic relations court of New York City. In this judicial capacity, he dealt with matters involving family and domestic relations, extending his public service into the judicial branch. He served on that court from his appointment in 1940 until his death.

Isaac Siegel died in New York City on June 29, 1947, as the result of an accidental fall from a window in his New York City apartment. He was interred at Union Field Cemetery in Ridgewood, New York. His career encompassed service as a lawyer, state official, four-term member of Congress, party delegate, and city judge, marking him as a notable figure in early twentieth-century New York and national politics.