Charles Godfrey Gunther

Charles Godfrey Gunther

C. 1860

Charles Godfrey Gunther (April 7 or February 7, 1822 – January 22, 1885^[1]) was a Democratic Mayor of New York City from 1864 until 1866.

Early life

Gunther was born in New York 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.

Political career

Gunther was active in Tammany Hall 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.

Later life

After leaving politics, Gunther became a railroad executive, working in that capacity until his death in 1885.

He was buried in Brooklyn's Green-Wood Cemetery.

See also

• German American

References

Sources

• The Mayor Elect, Harper's Weekly, December 19, 1863, at 813.
• http://www.correctionhistory.org/html/chronicl/gunther/gunther01.html

Mayors of New York City from inception to consolidation (June 12, 1665 – December 31, 1897)
T. Willett Delavall T. Willett Van Steenwyk Delavall Nicoll J. Lawrence Dervall De Mayer S. Van Cortlandt Delavall Rombouts Dyre Van Steenwyk Minvielle N. Bayard S. Van Cortlandt Delanoy J. Lawrence A. de Peyster Lodwik Merritt J. de Peyster Provost De Reimer Noell French Peartree Wilson J. Van Cortlandt Heathcote Johnstone J. Van Cortlandt Walters Jansen Lurting Richard Cruger S. Bayard Holland Cruger, Jr Hicks Mathews Duane Varick Livingston Clinton M. Willett Clinton Radcliff Clinton Ferguson Radcliff Colden Allen Paulding Hone Paulding Bowne Lee C. Lawrence Clark Varian Morris Harper Havemeyer Mickle Brady Havemeyer Woodhull Kingsland Westervelt Wood Tiemann Wood Opdyke Gunther Hoffman Coman Hall Havemeyer Vance Wickham Ely Cooper Grace Edson Grace Hewitt Grant Gilroy Strong