Leo Charles Dessar

Leo Charles Dessar (February 15, 1847 – April 20, 1924) was a Kingdom of Bavaria-born Jewish-American lawyer, politician, and judge from New York City.

Life Dessar was born on February 15, 1847 in the Kingdom of Bavaria. He immigrated to America with his family when he was infant. His father was Dr Julius H. Dessar, president of a Hebrew Institute in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Dessar received his early education from his father's school in Cincinnati. When he was old enough to enlist in the American Civil War, he became a drummer boy in the Union Army and went to the front. After the war, he attended Columbia College and graduated from there with a B.A. in 1868. He then went to Columbia Law School, graduating from there in 1870. He became active in politics shortly afterwards, joining Tammany Hall in what was then the Eleventh Assembly District. He was a member of the New York County Lawyers' Association since its organization and served on its Membership Committee from 1910 to 1912. He was also a member of the Freemasons, the Democratic Club, the Harmonie Club, the Nyack Club, the Rockland County Association, and the Freemasons. He was buried in Salem Fields Cemetery.