[3] His father was born on the island of Carriacou in the Grenadines and arrived in New York City aboard the S.S. Vestris on May 16, 1917.

[4][5][6][7] His mother was born in Kingston, Jamaica and arrived in Philadelphia on September 9, 1919, aboard the S.S. Vestnorge (with a final destination of New York City).

"I got out of high school when I was 16," Paterson told The New York Times columnist Bob Herbert, "and the first real job I had was with a wholesale house in the old Port Authority building, down on 18th Street.

"[8] Paterson attended college at St. John's University, but his studies were interrupted by a two-year stint in the U.S. Army during World War II.

While there, he was active in social and community service organizations including the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity—where he joined the ranks of the Omicron chapter of New York (now at Columbia University) in 1947.

Along with former Mayor David Dinkins, Manhattan Borough President Percy Sutton, and Congressman Charles Rangel, he was a leader of the influential Gang of Four (also known as the "Harlem Clubhouse").

While in office, he played a key role in preventing Columbia University from building a gym in Morningside Park.

[8] In 1970, Paterson vacated his senate seat to run for Lieutenant Governor of New York alongside former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Arthur Goldberg.

In the primary, Paterson received the most 100,000 more than votes than his ticket mate, who ran a close race against Howard Samuels.

[clarification needed] During the election, Albany machine boss Daniel P. O'Connell stated "He's the only white man on the ticket.

[citation needed] As Koch prepared to seek a third term in 1985, Paterson explored a mayoral candidacy of his own but ultimately chose not to run.