Edward Taylor Buckingham (May 12, 1874 – July 30, 1942) was an American Democratic Party politician, lawyer, and jurist who was the Mayor of Bridgeport, Connecticut from 1909 to 1911 and from 1929 to 1933.

Edward T. Buckingham
38th and 42nd Mayor of Bridgeport
In office
1909–1911
Preceded byHenry Lee
Succeeded byClifford Wilson
In office
1929–1933
Preceded byWilliam Behrens
Succeeded byJasper McLevy
Personal details
Born(1874-05-12)May 12, 1874
Metuchen, New Jersey
DiedJuly 30, 1942(1942-07-30) (aged 68)
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materYale University
Yale Law School

Early life and career

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Buckingham was born in Metuchen, New Jersey, on May 12, 1874, to Walter Taylor and Helen (Tolles) Buckingham.[1][2] He graduated in 1895 Yale University with a Bachelors' of Arts Degree, and then received his law degree from the Yale Law School in 1897.[3]

Buckingham moved to Bridgeport as a child and attended Bridgeport High School (since renamed as Central High School. He was the city clerk of Bridgeport from 1901 to 1909 and served as mayor of Bridgeport from 1909 to 1911, after which practiced law. He had another stint as mayor from 1929 to 1933. The latter stint, marred by unpopular policies made during the heights of the Great Depression, led to his loss to Socialist Jasper McLevy.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Edward Taylor Buckingham, B.A. 1895.", Obituary Record of Graduates of Yale University Deceased During the Year. Accessed January 20, 2024. "Born May 12, 1874, in Metuchen, NJ. Died July 30, 1942, m. Bridgeport, Conn. Father, Walter Taylor Buckingham, deputy collector of customs, Bridgeport, son of Lucius Edwin and Julia Abigail (Taylor) Buckingham of Dover, N. Y., and Woodbury, Conn. Mother, Helen Emehne (Tolles) Buckingham; daughter of Robert Tolles of Waterbury, Conn. Bridgeport High School"
  2. ^ "Former Resident Of Metuchen Wins Recognition", Courier News, August 24, 1939. Accessed January 20, 2024, via Newspapers.com. "A former Metuchen resident received prominent recognition today in Connecticut where he has served as mayor of Bridgeport and is now compensation commissioner for the Fourth Congressional District. The Hon. Edward T. Buckingham Sr., who was born In Metuchen in 1874, has been placed in 'Who's Who in Mllford' in the Tercentenary edition of The Milford News."
  3. ^ a b "E. T. Buckingham Dies; Ex-Mayor Of Bridgeport", Hartford Courant, July 31, 1942. Accessed January 20, 2024. "Edward T. Buckingham, 68. compensation commissioner for Fourth District and three-times mayor of Bridgeport, died Thursday night at Bridgeport Hospital where he had, been a patient since June 12.... He was first elected mayor in 1909, serving a two-year term. After 20 years absence from the office, during which he practiced law, he returned to head the city government in 1929 and was reelected in 1931.... Former Mayor Buckingham was graduated from Yale University in 1895 and from Yale Law School in 1897. He served as city clerk of Bridgeport from 1901 to 1909."