William Stormont Hackett | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Hackett as depicted in 1923's Encyclopedia of Biography of New York. | |
| 70th Mayor of Albany, New York | |
| In office January 1, 1922 – March 4, 1926 | |
| Preceded by | James R. Watt |
| Succeeded by | John Boyd Thacher II |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 7, 1868 Albany, New York |
| Died | March 4, 1926 (aged 57) Havana, Cuba |
| Resting place | Albany Rural Cemetery Menands, New York |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Occupation | Attorney Banker Businessman |
| Signature | .jpg){kind=small} |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | .svg){kind=small} United States |
| Branch/service |  New York National Guard |
| Years of service | 1890–1899 |
| Rank |  Sergeant |
| Unit | Company A, 10th Battalion |
William Stormont Hackett (December 7, 1868 – March 4, 1926) was an American lawyer, banker, businessman and politician. A Democrat, he was most notable for serving as the 70th mayor of Albany, New York after winning an election in 1921 that ended control of Albany by the Republican organization headed by William Barnes Jr., and established the dominance of the Democratic organization led by Daniel P. O'Connell and Edwin Corning.[1]
A native of Albany, Hackett was raised in the South End neighborhood and attended the local schools. After two years at Albany High School, he left school in order to begin studying law in at an Albany firm. After attaining admission to the bar in 1889, Hackett began to practice in Albany. He also served in the New York National Guard, and attained the rank of sergeant in Albany's Company A, 10th Battalion. In addition to practicing law, Hackett was involved in several business and banking ventures, including serving as president of the Albany City Savings Institution, Albany City Safe Deposit Company, and New York Mortgage and Home Building Company.
A Democrat who was friendly with local party leader Daniel P. O'Connell, in 1921, Hackett agreed to become the party's candidate for mayor. His defeat of William Van Rensselaer Erving ended Republican control by party leader William Barnes Jr. and ushered in O'Connell's longtime dominance of the city and county governments. Hackett was reelected in 1923 and 1925, and was planning to campaign for the Democratic nomination for governor of New York in the 1928 elections when he was injured in a February 1926 automobile accident that occurred while he was vacationing in Cuba. He did not recover, and died from his injuries at a hospital in Havana on March 4, 1926. A lifelong bachelor, Hackett was buried at Albany Rural Cemetery.
- ^ "Barnes Machine Beaten in Albany After 22 Years". The Evening World. New York, NY. November 9, 1921. p. 1.