John W. Hunter
Encyclopedia
John Ward Hunter was a United States Representative from New York
. Born in Bedford (now known as Bedford Stuyvesant), New York (now part of Brooklyn
), he received a liberal schooling and was a clerk in a wholesale grocery store in New York City in 1824. He was a clerk in the U.S. Custom House
at New York City from 1831 to 1836, and was assistant auditor of the customhouse from 1836 to 1865. He engaged in banking as treasurer of the Dime Savings Bank
in Brooklyn, and was elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-ninth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of James Humphrey. Hunter held office from December 4, 1866 to March 3, 1867; while in Congress, he was censure
d by the House of Representatives on January 26, 1867 for the use of unparliamentary language. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1866; in 1875 and 1876 he was mayor of Brooklyn. His successor as mayor was Frederick A. Schroeder
, a Republican. Hunter was elected the first President of the Society of Old Brooklynites. The prestigious civic organization which was founded in 1880, still holds monthly public meetings in the Brooklyn Surrogate's Courtroom.
He resumed banking and died in Brooklyn; interment was in Green-Wood Cemetery
.
Hunter was censured
by the United States House of Representatives. This was the tenth time in American history that a Representative was censured. The report cites "Insulted another member during debate (Jan. 26, 1867)" as the reason for this condemnation.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Born in Bedford (now known as Bedford Stuyvesant), New York (now part of 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...
), he received a liberal schooling and was a clerk in a wholesale grocery store in New York City in 1824. He was a clerk in the U.S. Custom House
Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House
The Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House is a building in New York City, built 1902–1907 by the federal government to house the duty collection operations for the port of New York. It is located near the southern tip of Manhattan, next to Battery Park, at 1 Bowling Green...
at New York City from 1831 to 1836, and was assistant auditor of the customhouse from 1836 to 1865. He engaged in banking as treasurer of the Dime Savings Bank
Dime Savings Bank of New York
The Dime Savings Bank of New York, originally Dime Savings Bank of Brooklyn operated from 1859 to the late 20th century. It is not to be confused with Dime Savings Bank of Williamsburgh, also in Brooklyn...
in Brooklyn, and was elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-ninth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of James Humphrey. Hunter held office from December 4, 1866 to March 3, 1867; while in Congress, he was censure
Censure
A censure is an expression of strong disapproval or harsh criticism. Among the forms that it can take are a stern rebuke by a legislature, a spiritual penalty imposed by a church, and a negative judgment pronounced on a theological proposition.-Politics:...
d by the House of Representatives on January 26, 1867 for the use of unparliamentary language. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1866; in 1875 and 1876 he was mayor of Brooklyn. His successor as mayor was Frederick A. Schroeder
Frederick A. Schroeder
Frederick A. Schroeder was an American industrialist and politician of German descent. As mayor of Brooklyn—before the city's merger with New York—and New York state senator, Schroeder earned a reputation for his fight against the political machine of the Brooklyn ring and for more efficient city...
, a Republican. Hunter was elected the first President of the Society of Old Brooklynites. The prestigious civic organization which was founded in 1880, still holds monthly public meetings in the Brooklyn Surrogate's Courtroom.
He resumed banking and died in Brooklyn; interment was in 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:...
.
Hunter was censured
Censure in the United States
In the United States, a motion of censure is a congressional procedure for reprimanding the President of the United States, a member of Congress, or a judge. Unlike impeachment, in the United States censure has no explicit basis in the federal constitution. It derives from the formal condemnation...
by the United States House of Representatives. This was the tenth time in American history that a Representative was censured. The report cites "Insulted another member during debate (Jan. 26, 1867)" as the reason for this condemnation.