NEW YORK - Tributes are pouring in for legendary former Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau, who died Sunday in Manhattan at age 99.

Morgenthau died at Lenox Hill Hospital, just 10 days before his 100th birthday.

He was born to a wealthy New York family, and served in the Navy during World War II. 

Morgenthau earned a law degree at Yale and joined a law firm in the city.

He served as U.S. Attorney for New York's southern district under presidents Kennedy and Johnson before being elected Manhattan DA in 1974.

Morgenthau held that post until 2009, when he turned 90.

Morgenthau prosecuted a number of high-profile trials including those of John Lennon's killer Mark David Chapman, subway vigilante Bernhard Goetz, and "preppy killer" Robert Chambers.

His office also oversaw the Central Park Jogger case, where five young men were convicted of attacking a woman in 1989.

Thirteen years later, Morgenthau asked a judge to throw out the convictions because new DNA evidence showed another man committed the crime.

In 2010, NY1 asked Morgenthau about his philosophy of pursuing justice.

"Simple. Investigate, prosecute cases without fear or favor. No case is too small. No case is too big," Morgenthau said.

Those paying tribute to Morgenthau on Twitter include Police Commissioner James O'Neill who wrote, "His vigorous prosecutions helped push the murder rate down 90% during his 35 years in office, which made our great city safer for all."

Former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara tweeted that Morgenthau, "was an unparalleled patriot, veteran, prosecutor, public servant. He gave his whole life to service."

Morgenthau is survived by his wife and seven children.