by Carolyn Tytler

Created on: January 24, 2010

New York, the Empire State, is situated in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is the home of about 20 million people and  the third most populous state in the USA.

Although the capital city is Albany, the state contains New York City, which is the largest city in the United States and one the largest urban areas in the world.

Four former presidents were born in New York State: Martin Van Buren, (1782), Millard Fillmore, (1800), Theodore Roosevelt, (1858), and Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882).

Since New York State formally adopted its constitution in 1777, it has been the birthplace of  many famous people.  Among the most well-known today are:

* Lucille Ball ( 1911-1989 ) Lucy was born in Jamestown, New York,  and become one of the best-loved comediennes of all time. With her first husband, Desi Arnaz she starred in the "I Love Lucy Show", (1951-1957) which is the most popular sitcom of all time. She was also the first woman ever to run a multimillion dollar business: Desilu Productions.

* Al Capone ( 1899-1947) Alphonse Capone, nicknamed Scarface, was the most notorious gangster in American history. Born in Brooklyn, he fled to Chicago in 1918, after killing a man. There he became mafia boss and ran the city with guns and blood. In 1928, he was imprisoned seven years for income tax evasion.  In jail, his mental and physical health deteriorated. He died of a stroke and pneumonia at age 48. 

* George Gershwin ( 1898-1937) He is considered to be one of the greatest American composers of the twentieth century. Jacob Gershowitz was born in Brooklyn and played the piano by ear in childhood. In 1913, he quit school to study music. He composed many award-winning songs and Broadway musicals during his career, including "Porgy and Bess",  the first opera with an all-black cast. He died at 39 of a brain tumor.

* Jackie Gleason  (1916-1987)  Born Herbert John Gleason in Brooklyn, Jackie was a big, bluff comedian of the 1950s and 1960s. One of TV's early shows,  "The Honeymooners", in which he played the scheming bus driver Ralph Kramden, ran only from 1955-56 but achieved cult status in endless reruns. Gleason also hosted several television variety shows and played dramatic roles.  He was a successful composer and conductor of  mood music, and made over a dozen record albums during his career.

* Norman Rockwell (1894-1978)  Norman Rockwell was born in New York City. His paintings

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