Abe Beame was the former mayor of New York City from 1974 to 1977. He was born in London in 1906 and immigrated to the United States in 1921. During his time as mayor, he faced a fiscal crisis that threatened to bankrupt the city. He was able to negotiate with the federal government and the city's unions to help the city out of its financial troubles. He also worked to improve the city's infrastructure and public transportation system. Beame passed away in 2001 at the age of 94.