Hamilton Fish II (April 17, 1849 – January 15, 1936) was an American lawyer and politician who served as Speaker of the New York State Assembly and a member of the United States House of Representatives. Early life Fish was born in Albany, New York, on April 17, 1849, while his father was serving as Governor of New York. Fish was the son of Julia Ursin Niemcewicz Kean (1816–1887) and Hamilton Fish (1808–1893). He graduated from Columbia College of Columbia University in 1869 and was a member of St. Anthony Hall. He also received a Master of Arts degree from Columbia. His paternal grandparents were Elizabeth (née Stuyvesant) Fish and Nicholas Fish (1758–1833), a leading Federalist politician and notable figure of the American Revolutionary War, who named his father after their friend Alexander Hamilton. In 1903, he succeeded his brother Nicholas Fish II as a hereditary member of the Society of the Cincinnati. Career After graduating from Columbia, he served as private secretary to his father for two years. He then returned to Columbia and attended Columbia Law School, graduating in 1873. From 1873 to 1874 he was aide-de-camp to Governor John Adams Dix with the rank of colonel. He was elected to twelve terms as a member of the New York State Assembly, representing Putnam County, in 1874, 1876, 1877, 1878, 1879, 1889, 1890, 1891, 1893, 1894, 1895 and 1896. He was the Republican leader in 1890 and Speaker in 1895 and 1896. He was selected in 1903 to serve as assistant treasurer of the United States in charge of the Wall Street sub-treasury in the administration of Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt's first choice, Robert Bacon, declined the position. He withdrew his second choice, William Plimley, after objections from several senators and New York bank presidents to the appointment of a political aide who had no relevant experience. Roosevelt then nominated Fish, who was promptly confirmed. He resigned from the Treasury in 1908 to run for the United States House of Representatives against Andrew C. Zabriskie. He defeated Zabriskie and was elected to represent New York's 21st district and served for a single term from March 4, 1909, until March 3, 1911. He was defeated for reelection. For many years Fish was considered to be one of the top Republican bosses in the State of New York, controlling Putnam County. Personal life In 1880, Fish was married to Emily Maria