Francis Key Pendleton

Francis Key Pendleton (January 1, 1850 – July 26, 1930) He was the son of George Hunt Pendleton and Mary Alicia (née Key) Pendleton. Among his siblings were Sarah Pendleton, who was born in Ireland, Mary Lloyd Pendleton, Jane Francis Pendleton, and George Hunt Pendleton Jr., who died young. His father, a former president of the Kentucky Central Railroad, served as the U.S. Minister to Germany, a U.S. Representative, and the U.S. Senator for Ohio, where he was chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus.

Pendleton prepared for college with Eugene F. Bliss in Cincinnati. While at Harverd, he was member of Delta Kappa Epsilon.

In 1907, Pendleton was appointed Corporation Counsel by the Democratic Mayor of New York City, George B. McClellan Jr., succeeding William B. Ellison. McClellan's father (George B. McClellan) and Pendleton's father (George H. Pendleton) were the Democratic Party's nominees for president and vice-president for the 1864 election.

In 1911, Pendleton was appointed a justice of the Supreme Court of New York by Democratic Governor John Alden Dix. He left the bench, effective April 1, 1920, stating: "I have had it in contemplation for a long time, but as I have a case on hand at trial and some judicial work to complete, I have set a date of severance with the judiciary at April 1. I intend to return to the practice of the law and will be at the head of the old firm of Pendleton, Anderson, Iselin & Riggs, with offices at 25 Broad Street."

Personal life

On July 1, 1885, Pendleton was married to Sarah "Sallie" Marié (1862–1886), daughter of Rachel (née Steward) and Camille Marié and the niece of Peter Marié. She died of pneumonia less than a year after their marriage on March 14, 1886. She was the daughter of Augustus La Montagne and granddaughter of New York property developer Thomas E. Davis. Pendleton was a member of the Knickerbocker Club, the Union Club of the City of New York, the Downtown Athletic Club, the Turf and Field Club, the City Midday Club, and the Riding and Meadow Brook Club.

Pendleton was injured in an automobile accident on Riverside Drive in May 1930.