Charles Godfrey Gunther
c. 1860

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

Early life

Gunther was born in New York on April 7, 1822,[lower-alpha 1] 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, 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. 1 2 "Volunteer Fireman: public service start & a lifelong association". New York Correction History Society. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 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.
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