David W. Petegorsky

Who was David W. Petegorsky?

David W. Petegorsky was author of an acclaimed book on Gerrard Winstanley and the Diggers.

He was born in Ottawa, the only son of Leon and Beckie Petegorsky. He had three sisters and attended Lisgar Collegiate in Ottawa followed by Yeshiva College where he was valedictorian of the 1935 class and received his rabbinical degree in 1936.

As a young Canadian student, Petegorsky studied for a doctoral degree at London School of Economics under Harold Laski. His book Left-Wing Democracy in the English Civil War was published as part of the Left Book Club series by Victor Gollancz, and republished by Sandpiper in 1999. This was his only book.

In 1940 he received his Ph.D. from the London School of Economics. A year later, he was an instructor at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio. In 1942, he returned to Ottawa where he held an information post with the Canadian Government, first with the National Film Board, and then with the Wartime Information Board, as director of its industrial section. During this time he wrote extensively for learned quarterlies and political journals. In addition, he published two books on political subjects.

Then in 1945 he returned to New York City and became Executive Director of the American Jewish Congress. He was involved with Robert S Marcus in the World Jewish Affairs Department of the American Jewish Congress. p.251 In 1948, he became a member of the Executive Committee of the World Jewish Congress. He held both positions until his death. His funeral was held at the Kehillath Jeshurun Synagogue in New York.