POLITICIAN

David Paterson

1954 - Today

Photo of David Paterson

Icon of person David Paterson

David Alexander Paterson (born May 20, 1954) is an American politician and attorney who served as the 55th governor of New York, succeeding Eliot Spitzer, who resigned, and serving out nearly three years of Spitzer's term from March 2008 to December 2010. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the first legally blind person to be sworn in as governor of a U.S. state, and the first African-American governor of New York. Following his graduation from Hofstra Law School, Paterson worked in the District Attorney's office of Queens County, New York, and on the staff of Manhattan borough president David Dinkins. In 1985, he was elected to the New York State Senate to a seat once held by his father, former New York Secretary of State Basil Paterson. Read more on Wikipedia

His biography is available in 37 different languages on Wikipedia. David Paterson is the 17,573rd most popular politician (down from 17,513th in 2024), the 12,399th most popular biography from United States (up from 12,546th in 2019) and the 936th most popular American Politician.

Memorability Metrics

Loading...

Page views of David Paterson by language

Loading...

Contemporaries

Among people born in 1954, David Paterson ranks 599Before him are Adam Ant, Medha Patkar, Ludwik Dorn, Leonardo Cuéllar, Freddie Prinze, and Bill Mumy. After him are José Van Tuyne, Stanley A. McChrystal, Louis de Bernières, Ulrich Walter, Aed Carabao, and Sandra Cisneros.

Others Born in 1954

Go to all Rankings

In United States

Among people born in United States, David Paterson ranks 12,403 out of 20,380Before him are Phoebe Hearst (1842), Dale Robertson (1923), William Kircher (1958), Andrew Stevens (1955), Mindy Kaling (1979), and Guy Mitchell (1927). After him are Debby Ryan (1993), Kelly Reichardt (1964), Arthur Laurents (1917), Emma Dumont (1994), Jimmie Davis (1899), and Robert Horry (1970).

Among POLITICIANS In United States

Among politicians born in United States, David Paterson ranks 936Before him are Charles Magill Conrad (1804), William Ellery (1727), Steny Hoyer (1939), Tom Foley (1929), Benjamin Stoddert (1751), and George Barnes (1892). After him are Rick Santorum (1958), Samuel Osgood (1747), Johnny Isakson (1944), Laura Kelly (1950), Ted Sorensen (1928), and Deb Fischer (1951).