Robert Eneas Lamberton (September 14, 1886 – August 22, 1941) was an American politician. He was a Republican who served as the 88th mayor of Philadelphia from 1940 to 1941. He was elected to the Philadelphia City Council in 1915, served as sheriff of Philadelphia County, and as a judge in the Court of Common Pleas.
Early life and education He was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. He received an A.B. degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1906 and a LL.B. degree in 1910. He was captain of the water polo team in 1906 and a member of the football team in 1908 and 1909. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon and the Philomathean Society as well as class president from 1908 to 1910.
Career He was elected to the Philadelphia City Council in 1915, served as sheriff of Philadelphia County, and as a judge in the Court of Common Pleas. He ran an unsuccessful campaign for Pennsylvania Governor in 1934. He ran successfully for Philadelphia mayor in 1939 against Robert White, a Democrat, garnering 398,384 votes to White's 361,143."The Great Depression," The Philadelphia Encyclopedia, Internet website , accessed September 20, 2014.
Lamberton suffered from Parkinson's disease and died at his shore house in Longport, New Jersey on August 22, 1941. He was interred at West Laurel Hill Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania. City Council president Bernard Samuel succeeded him as mayor.
Personal life He married Helen H. Lamberton and together they had five children. He lived in the Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia.
Legacy The Robert E. Lamberton High School in the Overbrook Park neighborhood of Philadelphia was named in his honor.
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