Edward M. Grout
Edward Marshall Grout | |
|---|---|
| Born | Error: Invalid birth date for calculating age New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Died | November 9, 1931 (aged 70) Greens Farms, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Attorney, public official |
| Years active | 1885–1931 |
| Known for | First Borough President of Brooklyn; New York City Comptroller |
Edward Marshall Grout (October 27, 1861 – November 9, 1931) was a prominent American attorney and public official from New York. He held the distinction of being Brooklyn's inaugural Borough President and subsequently served as New York City's Comptroller.
Life
Born in New York City to Edward Grout and Fanny Marshall, Grout hailed from a family with political roots; his grandfather, Paul Grout, was an assemblyman, and he was also a descendant of Jonathan Grout.
After completing his studies at Colgate University in 1884, Grout pursued legal training under the mentorship of Stewart L. Woodford. He gained admission to the bar in 1885 and worked alongside Woodford for seven years before forming a partnership with future New York City mayor William Jay Gaynor in the firm Gaynor, Grout & De Fere. Following Gaynor’s appointment as a judge, the firm evolved into Grout, De Fere & Mayer and later included Almet Francis Jenks.
Grout’s military service included time as a private in the New York National Guard’s 23rd Regiment from 1887 to 1892; in 1894, he was appointed judge advocate with the rank of major.
In 1895, he was the Democratic nominee for Mayor of Brooklyn but did not win. A dedicated advocate for the consolidation known as the City of Greater New York, he was elected Brooklyn’s first Borough President, serving from 1897 until 1901. Subsequently, he held the office of New York City Comptroller between 1901 and 1905. Additionally, he participated as a delegate at the 1904 Democratic National Convention.
Grout presided over a Brooklyn bank that ceased operations in 1911, resulting in his indictment on charges of submitting a fraudulent financial statement. After enduring a nine-week trial, he was found guilty and sentenced to one year’s imprisonment but was released on bail during the appeal process. The appellate court ordered a retrial, which led to dismissal of the charges. Afterwards, he resumed his legal career alongside his brother Paul at an office located at 115 Broadway. In 1924, he moved to Greens Farms, Connecticut, where he gained admission to the Connecticut bar.
In 1899, Grout married Ida L. Loeschigk; they had two children: Jonathan, who became a judge in Fairfield town court, and Catherine. He maintained memberships with the Montauk Club and New York County Lawyers Association and served as a trustee for Colgate University starting in 1895.
Grout passed away at his residence in Greens Farms on November 9, 1931, and was interred at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn.