Charles Godfrey Gunther

Charles Godfrey Gunther
Photo of Gunther by Mathew Brady
77th Mayor of New York City
In office
1864–1866
Preceded byGeorge Opdyke
Succeeded byJohn T. Hoffman
Personal details
BornApril 7, 1822
New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedJanuary 22, 1885 (1885-01-23) (aged 62)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Resting placeGreen-Wood Cemetery
Political partyDemocratic
Charles Godfrey Gunther

Charles Godfrey Gunther (April 7, 1822 – January 22, 1885) was mayor of New York City from 1864 until 1866.

Early life

Gunther was born in New York on April 7, 1822,[a] into a family of recent immigrants from Germany.[2][3] His father, Christian G. Gunther, was a wealthy fur merchant, and Gunther would eventually join the family business.

Gunther was also a volunteer firefighter for many years.[1]

Political career

Gunther was active in Tammany Hall politics since his teenage years.[2]

In 1861 he ran for mayor as a Democrat, but lost to Republican George Opdyke in an election fraught with Civil War complications. In 1863 Gunther ran again and was elected, serving his two-year term from 1864 until 1866.[2]

Later life

After leaving politics, Gunther became a railroad executive, working in that capacity until his death in New York on January 22, 1885.[2][4]

He was buried in Brooklyn's Green-Wood Cemetery.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ At least once source gives his birthdate as February 7, 1822.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b "Volunteer Fireman: public service start & a lifelong association". New York Correction History Society. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d Hall, Henry, ed. (1895). America's Successful Men of Affairs: An Encyclopedia of Contemporaneous Biography. Vol. I. The New York Tribune Company. p. 283. Retrieved December 3, 2021 – via Internet Archive.
  3. ^ "The Mayor Elect", Harper's Weekly, December 19, 1863, at 813.
  4. ^ "Obituary: Ex-Mayor C. Godfrey Gunther". The New York Times. January 24, 1885. p. 5. Retrieved December 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
Political offices
Preceded by Mayor of New York City
1864–1866 		Succeeded by