Isaac Varian

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An 1838 cartoon, "How to Make the Mare Mayor Go", depicts Varian (exiting stage left) and Clark (on a stalled mare). The Jew (right) suggests it's money that makes the mayor go.
An 1838 cartoon, "How to Make the Mare Mayor Go", depicts Varian (exiting stage left) and Clark (on a stalled mare). The Jew (right) suggests it's money that makes the mayor go.

Isaac Leggett Varian (New York, New York, June 25, 1793 - Peekskill, New York, August 10, 1864) was a New York state legislator and a Mayor of New York.

Contents

[edit] Political career

Varian was a prominent Democrat and led Tammany Hall from 1835 until 1842. He was a member of the State Assembly (1831-34), Mayor of New York (1839-41), and a State Senator (1842).

As Tammany Hall leader, Varian presided over a critical period in Democratic history, which saw the defection, and return of the Locofoco faction, which was in existence from 1835 until 1840, and was the decisive factor in the 1837 mayoral election won by Whigs against the divided Democracts.

Varian first ran for mayor in 1838, losing to Whig Aaron Clark by only 519 votes in an election tainted with allegations of massive Whig fraud and intimidation. In 1839 Varian beat Clark by 1,067 votes despite blatant electoral misconduct. During Varian's first term the legislature passed a bill that mandated voter registration and made it a lot harder to commit electoral fraud.

[edit] Personal

In 1811 Varian married Catharine Hopper Dusenbury (1789 - 1870). They had nine children, seven of whom survived infancy:

  • Andrew Hopper (1812 - 1826)
  • Tamar Letitia (b. 1813)
  • Isaac (1815 - 1816)
  • Matilda Campbell (b. 1817)
  • Mary Elizabeth (1819 - 1868)
  • Isaac (b. 1823)
  • Catharine Emeline (b. 1826)
    • Jacob Harsen (twin) (b. 1828)
    • Hannah (twin) (1828 - 1830)

In 1845 Varian quit politics and retired to Peekskill, where he died in 1864. He is buried in the New York City Marble Cemetery.

[edit] The Valentine-Varian House

Main article: Valentine-Varian House

The Valentine-Varian House (1758) is a historic farmhouse that still stands on what used to be the Varian dairy farm in the Bronx along the route from New York to Boston. The Varian family occupied the house from 1791 until 1905. At present, the building houses the Museum of Bronx History. A public park and an elementary school in the area are named after Varian.

[edit] Sources

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