William Travers Jerome

William Travers Jerome (April 18, 1859 – February 13, 1934) was an American lawyer and politician from New York.

Early life William Travers Jerome was born in New York City on April 18, 1859. He was the son of Lawrence Jerome (1820–1888, Collector of the Port of Rochester, New York, under President Millard Fillmore, NYC Alderman 1871) and Kate (Hall) Jerome.

Financier Leonard Jerome was his uncle, Lady Jennie Jerome was his first cousin, and U.K. Prime Minister Winston Churchill was his first cousin once removed. Lady Jerome had married the son of the 7th Duke of Marlborough, and brother of the 8th Duke, with the family seat being Blenheim Palace.

He attended Amherst College but left in 1881 without graduation. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1884, and commenced practice in New York City. On October 27 the county convention met again and nominated Jerome in place of Flammer unanimously. However, it was too late to change the names on the ballots, the limit being 20 days before the election. Thus Jerome was re-elected with a plurality of about 4,000 votes as an Independent, while Flammer received more than 12,000 votes on the Republican ticket. Jerome's successful re-election was considered a victory against machine politics.