Philip Becker
Encyclopedia
Philip Becker was Mayor
of the City of Buffalo, New York
, serving 1876–1877 and 1886–1889. He was born in Oberotterbach
, Bavaria
, Germany
, on April 25, 1830. He graduated from college in Germany at sixteen years of age. In 1847, Philip and his older brother were provided the means to pay the fare to America and he settled in Buffalo, where his aunt and uncle lived. In 1852, he married Sarah Goetz. He entered the retail and wholesale grocery business. Becker was instrumental in organizing the German Insurance Company in 1867 and was President of the company from 1869 until his death.
He was elected mayor on November 2, 1875, as the Republican
candidate. He was the first German-American elected mayor of Buffalo. During his first term, in March, 1876, the new County and City Hall
was opened. He was defeated by Solomon Scheu
in the election of 1877. On November 3, 1885, Becker was once again elected Mayor of Buffalo. He was reelected on November 8, 1887 At the end of his third term, he did not seek re-election. He returned to his business enterprises and retired in 1893. Becker died on July 4, 1898, with an estate valued over $750,000. He was buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery
.
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of the City of Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, serving 1876–1877 and 1886–1889. He was born in Oberotterbach
Oberotterbach
Oberotterbach is a municipality in Südliche Weinstraße district, in Rhineland-Palatinate, western Germany....
, Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
, 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...
, on April 25, 1830. He graduated from college in Germany at sixteen years of age. In 1847, Philip and his older brother were provided the means to pay the fare to America and he settled in Buffalo, where his aunt and uncle lived. In 1852, he married Sarah Goetz. He entered the retail and wholesale grocery business. Becker was instrumental in organizing the German Insurance Company in 1867 and was President of the company from 1869 until his death.
He was elected mayor on November 2, 1875, as the 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...
candidate. He was the first German-American elected mayor of Buffalo. During his first term, in March, 1876, the new County and City Hall
County and City Hall
County and City Hall, also known as Erie County Hall, is a historic city hall and courthouse building located at Buffalo in Erie County, New York. It is a monumental granite structure designed by noted Rochester architect Andrew Jackson Warner and constructed between 1871 and 1875. The building...
was opened. He was defeated by Solomon Scheu
Solomon Scheu
Solomon Scheu was an American businessman and politician from New York.-Life:...
in the election of 1877. On November 3, 1885, Becker was once again elected Mayor of Buffalo. He was reelected on November 8, 1887 At the end of his third term, he did not seek re-election. He returned to his business enterprises and retired in 1893. Becker died on July 4, 1898, with an estate valued over $750,000. He was buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery
Forest Lawn Cemetery, Buffalo
Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo, New York was founded in 1849 by Charles E. Clark. It covers over 250 acres and over 152,000 are buried there. Notable graves include U.S. President Millard Fillmore, singer Rick James, and inventor Lawrence Dale Bell...
.