Profile Text
Paterson in 2009, photo by gjoe /Bigstock.com
Birth Name: David Alexander Paterson
Place of Birth: Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
Date of Birth: May 20, 1954
Ethnicity: * father – African-Carriacouan/Grenadian, African-Jamaican * mother – African-American
David Paterson is an American politician, attorney, and radio show host. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as Governor of New York, from March 17, 2008 to December 31, 2010. He was also Minority Leader of the New York State Senate, from January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2006, Lieutenant Governor of New York, from January 1, 2007 to March 17, 2008, and Chair of the New York Democratic Party, from May 21, 2014 to November 4, 2015. He became governor upon Eliot Spitzer’s resignation.
He is the son of Portia (Hairston) and labor lawyer and politician Basil A. Paterson (Basil Alexander Paterson), who served as Deputy Mayor of New York City, from January 1, 1978 to January 1, 1979, and Secretary of State of New York, from January 1, 1979 to January 1, 1983. His father was of Grenadian and Jamaican ancestry. His mother is African-American, descended from pre-Civil War African-American slaves in North Carolina and South Carolina. He was raised on South Hempstead, Long Island.
David is the first legally blind person to have served as a U.S. Governor. He contracted an ear infection at the age of three months that spread to his optic nerve, leaving him with limited vision in his right eye and sightless in his left eye.
David is married to Mary Galda. He has a son with his former wife, healthcare professional Michelle Paige Paterson. Mary is the former wife of activist, radio talk show host, and politician Curtis Sliwa. David is Catholic.
David’s paternal grandfather was named Leonard James Paterson (the son of James Paterson and Elisia). Leonard was born on the island of Carriacou, in the Grenadines.
David’s paternal grandmother was named Evangeline Alicia Rondon. Evangeline was born in Kingston, Jamaica. She was a stenographer, and a secretary for political activist, black nationalist, and orator Marcus Garvey, of the UNIA-ACL.
David’s maternal grandfather was Otis K. Hairston (the son of Rufus H. Hairston and Dorothy Rule). Otis was born in North Carolina. Rufus was the son of George Hairston and Polly.
David’s maternal grandmother was named Marion Gibbs (the daughter of Thomas Gibbs). Marion was born in South Carolina.
A DNA test taken by David, c. 2008, indicated that his African ancestry is from Guinea-Bissau, and that he also has DNA matching English, Irish, and Scottish populations on his father’s side, and Ashkenazi Jewish populations on his mother’s.
Sources: New York Now Interview with David Paterson – https://www.youtube.com
Genealogy of David Paterson – https://www.geni.com