Page:Men of Mark in America vol 1.djvu/81

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GEORGE BRUCE CORTELYOU

GEORGE BRUCE CORTELYOU, graduate Massachusetts state normal school, at Westfield, Massachusetts, 1882; student and instructor in stenography, New York city, 1883-85; principal of college preparatory schools, 1885-89; private secretary to United States post office inspector in charge at New York, 1889, and to the surveyor of the Port of New York, 1891; private secretary to the fourth assistant postmaster-general, Washington, District of Columbia, 1893-95; acting chief clerk and acting fourth assistant postmaster-general, 1895; stenographer and executive clerk to President Cleveland, 1895-96; assistant secretary to President McKinley, 1898-1900; secretary to the president, 1900-03; secretary of commerce and labor in the cabinet of President Roosevelt from February 16, 1903, to July 1, 1904; in June, 1904, was elected chairman of the Republican national committee, managing the campaign which resulted in the election of President Roosevelt by the largest popular majority ever given to a presidential candidate; and entering the new cabinet of President Roosevelt in March, 1905, as postmaster-general, on assuming the duties of that office announced his retirement from the chairmanship of the Republican national committee.

He was born in New York city, July 26, 1862. His father, Peter Crolius Cortelyou, Jr., was associated with his grandfather, Peter Crolius Cortelyou, Sr., in the type founding business in partnership with George Bruce in New York city, the leading type house in the world for nearly half a century. His ancestors were among the distinguished leaders of Colonial and Revolutionary history in the State of New York.

George Bruce Cortelyou had the advantages of an excellent home training in the best environment, and he embraced every opportunity to broaden his education. After passing through the public schools he was graduated at the Hempstead (Long Island) institute in 1879 and at the State normal school, Westfield, Massachusetts, 1882. He was prepared for college with the intention