David Paterson

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 Alexander Paterson is an American politician. 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, and Lieutenant Governor of New York, from January 1, 2007 to March 17, 2008, among other duties. He became governor upon Eliot Spitzer’s resignation.

He is the son of Portia (Hairston) and labor lawyer 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.

David is the first legally blind person to served as a U.S. Governor.

David is married to Mary Galda. He has a daughter with his former wife Michelle Paige.

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 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