Robert Eneas Lamberton

Robert Lamberton
88th Mayor of Philadelphia
In office
January 1, 1940 – August 22, 1941
Preceded byGeorge Connell
Succeeded byBernard Samuel
Personal details
Born(1886-09-14)September 14, 1886
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
DiedAugust 22, 1941(1941-08-22) (aged 54)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Political partyRepublican

Robert Eneas Lamberton (September 14, 1886 – August 22, 1941) was an American Republican politician who served as the 88th (114th if one counts those elected to nonconsecutive terms more than once) mayor of Philadelphia from 1940 until his death in 1941.[1]

He was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and ran an unsuccessful campaign for Pennsylvania Governor in 1934. He ran successfully for Philadelphia mayor in 1939 against Robert White, a Democrat, garnering 398,384 votes to White's 361,143.[2]

Lamberton suffered from Parkinson’s Disease and, died while recovering at his shore house in Longport, New Jersey on August 22, 1941. The City Council President Bernard Samuel succeeded him as mayor.[3][4]

Several years later, a school was named after him in Philadelphia's Overbrook Park section. The school has been called Robert E. Lamberton Public School, Lamberton Public School, Robert E. Lamberton High School, Robert E. Lamberton Eastern Early College High School, and Lamberton High School.[5]

  1. ^ Weigley, Russell F., ed. Philadelphia: A 300-Year History, New York: W. W. Norton, 1982.
  2. ^ "The Great Depression," The Philadelphia Encyclopedia, Internet website [1], accessed September 20, 2014.
  3. ^ "Death Comes While He Sleeps In Home at Shore". Philadelphia Inquirer. 1941-08-23.
  4. ^ "Samuel is Mayor of Philadelphia; Sworn In to Fill Lamberton's Place Until Voters Choose a Successor at the Polls". New York Times. 1941-08-23.
  5. ^ Curtis, John Trevor, The Public Schools of Philadelphia, Philadelphia: Burk and McFetridge, 1897.