Perlman, Nathan David, 1887-1952

Nathan David Perlman (August 2, 1887 – June 29, 1952) was an American lawyer, jurist, and politician. A member of the Republican Party, he notably served as the U.S. Representative from New York's 20th congressional district from 1920 to 1927.

Born in Prusice, Poland, he immigrated to the United States in 1891 with his mother where they settled in New York City. After attending the city's public schools, Perlman pursued higher education by attending College of the City of New York; and New York University Law School. Perlman graduated from law school in 1907, was admitted to the bar in 1909, and practiced law in New York City. He served as a Special Deputy New York Attorney General from 1912 to 1914 and a member of the New York State Assembly from the 6th district in 1915, 1916 and 1917. Perlman was an unsuccessful candidate for re-election in 1917.

He was elected as a Republican to the 66th United States Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Fiorello H. La Guardia. Perlman was re-elected to the 67th, 68th and 69th United States Congresses, holding office from November 2, 1920, to March 3, 1927. Afterwards Perlman resumed the practice of law. He was a delegate to the New York State Convention to enact the 21st Amendment, and then became a New York City Magistrate serving from May 1, 1935, to September 1, 1936. At the New York state election, 1936, he ran on the Republican ticket for New York Attorney General but was defeated by the incumbent John J. Bennett, Jr.

Perlman was then appointed as a justice of the Court of Special Sessions of the City of New York on November 26, 1936, and was re-appointed on July 1, 1945. Perlman was a senior official of the American Jewish Congress and, in 1945, consulted with and provided assistance to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Robert H. Jackson, President Truman's appointee to serve as chief U.S. prosecutor of Nazi war criminals. Perlman died at Beth Israel Hospital in New York City, and was buried at Mount Hebron Cemetery in Queens.