2 Biographical Sketch 



whose family was of Scotch and Huguenot origin, 

 and had been prominent in public life in the South. 

 During his childhood, Roosevelt was in such bad 

 health that it was doubtful if he would ever grow 

 to manhood, and his robust strength and extraor- 

 dinary capacity for physical endurance were not ac- 

 quired until after his outdoor life in the West. He 

 was educated at private schools in New York City, 

 whence he went to Harvard University in 1876, 

 graduating in the usual course in 1880. His tastes 

 were for literary work, but the very year after 

 leaving college he was elected to the Legislature 

 as a representative of one of the City Assembly 

 districts; and in the same fashion that has since 

 characterized him, he plunged at once into the thick 

 of the fight as an ardent reformer, particularly with 

 reference to legislation affecting New York City. 

 His youth and lack of experience were more than 

 counterbalanced by his earnestness and aggressive 

 energy, so that he speedily became a power which 

 had to be recognized. He was the leader of his 

 party while it was in the minority, and when it 

 was in the majority he was Chairman of the Com- 

 mittee on Cities. He served three terms in the 

 Legislature, and during that time introduced and 

 carried through more important city legislation than 

 was ever brought about by any one Assemblyman. 

 It was all directed by one central purpose, namely, 

 to put an end to boards and commissions with their 

 opportunities for "trades" and "deals," to restrict 

 the powers of the Board of Aldermen, who were 



