15 Facts About Isidor Straus

Isidor Straus was a Bavarian-born American businessman, politician and co-owner of Macy's department store with his brother Nathan.

Isidor Straus served for just over a year as a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing the state of New York.

Isidor Straus died with his wife, Ida, in the sinking of the Titanic.

Isidor Straus was the first of five children of Lazarus Straus and his second wife and first cousin, Sara Straus.

Isidor Straus's siblings were Hermine, Nathan, Jakob Otto and Oscar Solomon Straus.

Isidor Straus was preparing to go to the United States Military Academy at West Point when the outbreak of the American Civil War prevented him from doing so.

Isidor Straus worked as an aide to a London-based Confederate agent while living in England, as well as a Confederate bond salesman in both London and Amsterdam.

In 1888, he and Nathan Isidor Straus became partners of Macy's.

Isidor Straus served as a US Congressman from January 30,1894, to March 3,1895, representing New York's 15th congressional district as a Democrat.

Isidor Straus won a special election in January 1894 to complete the term of Ashbel P Fitch, who had resigned to become New York City Comptroller.

Isidor Straus did not run for re-election in the general election of November 1894.

Isidor Straus was president of The Educational Alliance and a prominent worker in charitable and educational movements, very much interested in civil service reform and the general extension of education.

Isidor Straus declined the office of Postmaster General which was offered him by US President Grover Cleveland.

Isidor Straus's body was recovered by CS Mackay-Bennett and taken to Halifax, Nova Scotia, and from there shipped to New York.

Isidor Straus was first buried in the Straus-Kohns Mausoleum at Beth-El Cemetery in Brooklyn, and he was then moved to the Straus Mausoleum in Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx in 1928.