David Lamar

David Lamar
David Lamar circa 1913
Born	c. 1877 United States
Died	January 12, 1934 (aged 56–57) United States
Residence	New York City, New York
Nationality	American
Occupation	Con man

David Lamar (circa 1877 – January 12, 1934) was a con man known as the Wolf of Wall Street.

David Lamar was born circa 1877. In 1913 Lamar was under indictment in New York and was charged with impersonating a member of Congress.

When James McMahon appeared in court to testify against Lamar, McMahon was stabbed and beaten by members of the Eastman Gang as he entered the courthouse and he was unable to testify.

In 1899, Lamar claimed one of his most famous victims, 25-year-old John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Working through George Rogers, secretary to Standard Oil founder John D. Rockefeller, Sr., Lamar convinced the younger Rockefeller to buy stock in U.S. Leather, using money he had borrowed from his father. As Rockefeller Jr. was buying, Lamar was selling, and the younger Rockefeller lost nearly $1 million.

During 1915, Lamar acted as an agent for Franz von Rintelen, an agent for the German Navy intelligence in New York City. He promoted strikes and work slowdowns in munitions plants by means of the Labor's National Peace Council. From offices at 55 Liberty Street, von Rintelen spent US$500,000, most of which went to Lamar, whose reports of success were exaggerated.

Lamar died in 1934.