Richard Harper Laimbeer

Richard Harper Laimbeer Jr. (July 11, 1857 − February 19, 1934) was a judge of the Court of Special Sessions and a Deputy Fire Commissioner in New York City.

Life Laimbeer was born in Brooklyn on July 11, 1857.

Laimbeer was educated at the Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute and Columbia Law School, and practiced law after graduating in 1878. In 1883 he married Belle Meafoy, of South Brooklyn.

Career He was one of the commissioners who determined the route of the subway running from City Hall in Manhattan to Borough Hall in Brooklyn.

In April 1895 Laimbeer was appointed by Charles Schieren, mayor of Brooklyn, to fill a vacated magistrate position at the Ewen Street court, succeeding William Watson. He served the remainder of Watson's term, leaving the post in April 1896. During his term he was especially severe in sentencing wife-beaters.

Laimbeer enlisted in the New York National Guard's 7th Regiment in 1879, serving as a private until 1884. He served in the 2nd Brigade, initially, in 1900, as regimental quartermaster, and then as aide-de-camp, and was briefly an aide-de-camp to the governor before being promoted to major in 1903. He became quartermaster in 1903 and judge advocate in 1904. He retired from the National Guard in 1910. and again in January 1914 by Mayor John Purroy Mitchel. The latter appointment was at a salary of $5,000 per year.

Laimbeer was a relative of Benjamin Odell, the Governor of New York, and in 1903 Odell attempted to appoint Laimbeer as the chair of the party's executive committee, replacing Jacob Brenner, but met with resistance from the committee members and senior party members such as Timothy Woodruff.

Laimbeer was for a while the Republican leader of the Third Assembly District, in Brooklyn. An ally of his was accused of paying a voter to vote for Laimbeer in the 1903 election. Laimbeer resigned in 1922, and was succeeded by Anthony De Martini, an ally of Laimbeer's.