The New York State Governor David Paterson, who recently became the state’s first black governor after Elliot Spitzer had left the job vacant, is in hospital.

The Democratic Party member checked himself into a Manhattan hospital on Tuesday due to symptoms of a migraine headache.

The results of preliminary tests performed on Gov. Paterson turned out normal, according to the governor's office. The 54-year-old is now resting before undergoing further tests today at the Mount Sinai Medical Center.  

Although he is known as an athletic person – he plays basketball for recreation and also ran the New York City marathon - this is not the first time Gov. Paterson has had health problems and is forced to check himself into a hospital. Last July, he fainted on an airplane. He was given oxygen and was taken with an ambulance to the nearest hospital after the plane had landed. After a heart test, Paterson received a clean bill of health.

In April 2006 he was hospitalized for about 12 hours after some chest pains. At that time, Paterson was state Senate Minority Leader.

David Paterson, a Harlem native, had been Spitzer’s lieutenant governor for 14 months before taking his place to become New York’s 55th governor.

“The Wall Street’s Sheriff”, as some called Spitzer, had no choice but to resign after his involvement in a VIP prostitution ring came to light.

Paterson, who turned 54 on Tuesday, is legally blind with only slight vision in one eye. He is New York’s first black governor and also the first legally blind chief executive of an American state.