Ansorge, Martin C. (Martin Charles), 1882-1967

Martin Charles Ansorge (January 1, 1882 – February 4, 1967) was an American lawyer, business executive, and politician. He notably served as U.S. Representative from New York's 21st congressional district from 1921 to 1923.

Born in Corning, New York, he attended public schools and the College of the City of New York before graduating from Columbia College and Columbia Law School. He was admitted to the bar in 1906 and commenced practice in Manhattan, New York City. He mounted three unsuccessful runs for the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 21st district in 1912, 1914, and 1916. He declined the Republican nomination for Congress in 1918. During the First World War Ansorge enlisted as a private in the United States Army. He was assigned to the Motor Transport Corps; Ansorge was stationed at Camp Meigs in what is now the Brentwood neighborhood of Washington, D.C., and intended to serve in France. The armistice took place before he left the country, and he was honorably discharged at the end of the war.

He was the first chairman of the Triborough Bridge Committee, a position he held from 1918 to 1921. Ansorge was elected as a Republican to the 67th United States Congress (March 4, 1921 – March 3, 1923). As a Congressman, Ansorge was influential in the passing of the first-ever anti-lynching legislation. His writing of legislation on the matter was eventually included into the ultimately successful Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill, which prohibited lynching in America. He lost reelection to the 68th United States Congress in 1922 by the margin of 345 votes, and unsuccessfully contested the victory of Royal H. Weller.

Ansorge was an unsuccessful candidate for judge of the court of general sessions of New York City in 1924 and unsuccessful candidate for justice of the supreme court of New York in 1927 and in 1928. The New York Times made mention of Ansorge as a candidate for Mayor of New York City in 1949. Ansorge continued to practice law in New York City, was a member of the board of directors of United Air Lines from 1934 to 1961. He represented Henry Ford in the Aaron Sapiro libel lawsuit, which resulted in Ford's apologies and agreement to pay court costs.

Ansorge died at his apartment in the Ansonia Hotel in Manhattan on February 4, 1967. He was interred in Temple Israel Cemetery in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York.