Ezra P. Prentice

Ezra Parmelee Prentice (August 19, 1877 – July 19, 1966) was an American lawyer and politician from New York.

Life Prentice was born on August 19, 1877, in Albany, New York, the son of William Packer Prentice and Florence Kelly. His father was Chief of Staff for General O. M. Mitchell during the American Civil War and counsel for the New York City Health Department from 1873 to 1892. His paternal grandfather, Ezra P. Prentice, was president of the National Commercial Bank in Albany and the Albany and Susquehanna Railroad. His maternal grandfather, Robert Kelly, was City Chamberlain of New York in 1856. His brother was William Kelly Prentice, a classics professor at Princeton University.

Prentice attended Halsey Collegiate School in New York City. He then went to Princeton University, graduating from there with a B.A. in 1898. He also received an M.A. there in 1903. In 1899, he enlisted in Squadron A of the New York National Guard. He later re-enlisted and served in the National Guard until 1910. He graduated from the New York Law School with an LL.B. in 1900 and was admitted to the bar later that year. He initially worked in the law office of his father and brother, W. P. & R. K. Prentice. During 1901, he became a law clerk in the office of Parsons, Shepard & Ogden. During 1903, he opened a law office at 52 Broadway.

In 1903, Prentice was elected to the New York State Assembly as a Republican, representing the New York County 25th District. He served in the Assembly in 1904, 1906, and 1907. While in the Assembly, he was a member of the Armstrong Committee. He was a delegate to the 1908 and 1912 Republican National Conventions. He was Deputy Attorney General of New York from 1909 to 1910, was a member of the New York Republican State Committee, and in October 1910 he was elected Chairman of the Committee He was buried in the Albany Rural Cemetery.