Frank McCoppin

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Frank McCoppin (born 1834, County Longford, Ireland; died May 26, 1897, San Francisco, California) was the first Irish-born Mayor of San Francisco.

McCoppin was a member of the Royal Irish Constabulary from 1851 until he emigrated to the United States in 1853. In 1860, he was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. He then was elected mayor in 1867, serving from December 2, 1867 to December 5, 1869. He and the Board of Supervisors approved the plan for Golden Gate Park January 14, 1868.

He is credited with recommending the use of ladybugs to control insect pests affecting the California citrus crop.

In 1886, he ran for a seat in the United States House of Representatives, but lost to William W. Morrow. He later served two terms in the California State Senate. In 1894, President Grover Cleveland appointed him Postmaster of San Francisco, a position he held until his death from stomach cancer on May 26, 1897.

A small park, McCoppin Square, located in the Sunset district, is named in his honor, as are McCoppin Street in the Mission District and Frank McCoppin Elementary School, near Golden Gate Park.