About Basil A. Paterson
Basil Alexander Paterson (April 27, 1926 – April 16, 2014) was an American labor lawyer and politician. He served in the New York State Senate from 1966 to 1971 and as the first African-American secretary of state of New York, serving under Governor Hugh Carey from 1979 to 1983. In 1970, Paterson was the Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of New York on the Arthur Goldberg ticket. Paterson's son David served as the state's first African-American governor from 2008 to 2011. At his death in 2014, The New York Times described Paterson as "one of the old-guard Democratic leaders who for decades dominated politics in Harlem and influenced black political power in New York City and the state into the 21st century," In 1972, Paterson was the first elected African American Vice Chairman of the Democratic National Committee. Paterson was the first African-American to hold the post, and he served until 1983. Paterson became involved in Democratic politics in Harlem in the 1950s. Paterson's son David served as governor from 2008 to 2011.
Biography source: Wikipedia. The profile adds birthday-specific historical context from the Celebs Birthday Today editorial database.