Andrew Nicholas Petersen (March 10, 1870 – September 28, 1953) was apatternmaker and foundry company executive who served as aU.S. Representative fromNew York.

Andrew Petersen
Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromNew York's9th district
In office March 4, 1921 – March 3, 1923
Preceded by	David J. O'Connell
Succeeded by	David J. O'Connell
Personal details
Born	Andrew Nicholas Petersen (1870-03-10)March 10, 1870 nearThisted,Denmark
Died	September 28, 1953(1953-09-28) (aged 83) East Rockaway,New York
Political party	Republican
Occupation	Patternmaker Foundry company executive

Born nearThisted,Denmark, Petersen immigrated to the United States in 1873 with his parents, Tyler and Hansine (Furst) Petersen.^[1] They settled first inBoston before moving toNew York City in 1879. He attended the public schools and learned thepatternmaker's trade.^[2]

Petersen later became an executive in the metal working industry, and served as president ofBrooklyn's Whale Creek Iron Works.^[2] In addition, Petersen was an officer and member of the board of governors of the Employers' Association of Architectural Iron Workers.^[2] He was also active in a real estate sales and development company, Farragut Realty.^[2] In 1897, he invented an ironstaircase fortenement houses, for which he received a patent.^[2] Petersen served as president of the Brooklyn Foundry Company from 1900 to 1952.^[2] His companies were active in construction throughout the New York City area, including fulfilling contracts for elevator fronts, staircases, railings, columns, building fronts, and other building components.^[2]

Petersen was elected as aRepublican to theSixty-seventh Congress (March 4, 1921 – March 3, 1923).^[3] He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1922 to theSixty-eighth Congress.^[4] In 1924, he was the unsuccessful Republican nominee for the Congressional seat he had previously held.^[5]

In 1923, PresidentWarren G. Harding, andEdwin Denby, theSecretary of the Navy, requested that Petersen and another former Republican Congressman from New York,Albert B. Rossdale travel to thePanama Canal Zone to make firsthand observations on living and working conditions forNavy sailors, and make recommendations for improvements.^[6] Intending to conduct their investigation undercover, Petersen and Rossdale joined the crew of the battleshipUSSNew York, donned sailors' uniforms, had dinner with the crew, and then departed with them for shore leave.^[6] Upon entering a Panamanian cabaret, they were arrested by members of the Navy shore patrol and charged with being at liberty after 11 PM, in violation of Naval regulations.^[6] They remained in detention until they revealed their identities and the captain of theNew York wired the shore patrol instructions to release Petersen and Rossdale.^[6] Rather than the planned undercover operation, the investigation Rossdale and Petersen intended degenerated into farce; when the media became aware of the events, they generated satirical headlines that showed the principals and the Harding administration in a negative light.^[6]

Peterson died inEast Rockaway, New York on September 28, 1953.^[7] He was buried inCypress Hills Abbey,Brooklyn, New York.^[8]

In 1896, Petersen married to Olga E. Holck.^[1][7] They were the parents of three children, daughter Shirley M.,^[1] and sons Harry E. and Elliott I. Harry Petersen succeeded his father as president of the Brooklyn Foundry Company.^[7] Elliott Petersen was vice president of production for theBigelow-Sanford Carpet Company.^[7]

• Duer, Stephen C.; Smith, Allan B. (2010).Images of America: Cypress Hills Cemetery. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing.ISBN 978-0-7385-7343-4.
• Leonard, John W. (1907).Who's Who in New York City and State. New York, NY: L. R. Hammersly & Company. p. 1037.
• Stone, Kurt F. (2011).The Jews of Capitol Hill: A Compendium of Jewish Congressional Members. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press.ISBN 978-0-8108-5731-5.

• "Andrew M. Petersen, Boro member of 67th Congress".Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Brooklyn, NY. September 30, 1953. (Note: Headline and article give incorrect middle initial.)

• Crossett, Frederick M. (February 1, 1905)."Profile, Andrew N. Petersen".Building Trades Employers' Association Bulletin. New York, NY: New York Building Trades Employers' Association.

• United States Congress."Andrew Petersen (id: P000257)".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

  This article incorporatespublic domain material from theBiographical Directory of the United States Congress