Charles Godfrey Gunther
Encyclopedia
Charles Godfrey Gunther (April 7 or February 7, 1822 - January 22, 1885) was a Democratic
Mayor of New York
from 1864 until 1866.
into a family of recent immigrants from Germany
. 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.
politics since his teenage years.
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.
He was buried in Brooklyn
's Green-Wood Cemetery
.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Mayor of New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
from 1864 until 1866.
Early life
Gunther was born in New YorkNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
into a family of recent immigrants from Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. 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.
Political career
Gunther was active in Tammany HallTammany Hall
Tammany Hall, also known as the Society of St. Tammany, the Sons of St. Tammany, or the Columbian Order, was a New York political organization founded in 1786 and incorporated on May 12, 1789 as the Tammany Society...
politics since his teenage years.
In 1861 he ran for Mayor, but lost to Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
George Opdyke
George Opdyke
George Opdyke was an entrepreneur and the Mayor of New York during the American Civil War.-Early life:He was born in Hunterdon County, New Jersey and in the 1820s he lived in Cleveland, Ohio and New Orleans, Louisiana....
in an election fraught with Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
complications. In 1863 Gunther ran again and was elected, serving his two year term from 1864 until 1866.
Later life
After leaving politics, Gunther became a railroad executive, working in that capacity until his death in 1885.He was buried in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
's Green-Wood Cemetery
Green-Wood Cemetery
Green-Wood Cemetery was founded in 1838 as a rural cemetery in Brooklyn, Kings County , New York. It was granted National Historic Landmark status in 2006 by the U.S. Department of the Interior.-History:...
.
Sources
- The Mayor Elect, Harper's WeeklyHarper's WeeklyHarper's Weekly was an American political magazine based in New York City. Published by Harper & Brothers from 1857 until 1916, it featured foreign and domestic news, fiction, essays on many subjects, and humor...
, December 19, 1863, at 813. - http://www.correctionhistory.org/html/chronicl/gunther/gunther01.html