Davidson, Irwin D. (Irwin Delmore), 1906-1981

Irwin Delmore Davidson (January 2, 1906 – August 1, 1981) was an American lawyer, jurist, and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he notably served as the U.S. Representative from New York's 20th congressional district from 1955 to 1956 and as a Justice of the New York Supreme Court from 1963 to 1974.

Born in New York City, he attended the public schools there before earning B.S. and LL.B. degrees from from New York University. Davidson was admitted to the bar in 1929 and commenced the practice of law in New York City. After serving as counsel for Legislative Bill Drafting Commission in 1935 and special counsel to New York State Mortgage Commission in 1936, he successfully ran for a seat in the New York State Assembly from the 7th district in 1936. Though losing his 1937 bid for re-election, Davidson was elected to the 7th district seat in 1938, 1940, and 1942 and to the 5th district seat in the State Assembly in 1944, 1946, and 1948. He resigned from the Assembly to serve as justice of the Court of Special Sessions in New York City, serving from 1948 until his resignation in 1954 to become a candidate for United States House of Representatives.

Davidson was elected to the 84th United States Congress, holding office from January 3, 1955, to December 31, 1956, when he resigned, having been elected judge of the Court of General Sessions in the county of New York in 1956 for a fourteen-year term. From 1963 to 1974, Davidson served as a Justice of the New York Supreme Court from 1963 to 1974.

He died at his home at Premium Point in New Rochelle, New York on August 1, 1981. He was cremated and his ashes were scattered over the Long Island Sound by seaplane.