Charles Godfrey Gunther Explained

Charles Godfrey Gunther (April 7, 1822 – January 22, 1885) was mayor of New York City from 1864 until 1866.

Early life

Gunther was born in New York on April 7, 1822, into a family of recent immigrants from Germany.^{[1] [2]} 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.^[1]

In 1861 he ran for mayor as a Democrat, 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.^[1]

Later life

After leaving politics, Gunther became a railroad executive, working in that capacity until his death in New York on January 22, 1885.^{[1] [3]}

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

See also

• German Americans

Notes and References

1. Book: America's Successful Men of Affairs: An Encyclopedia of Contemporaneous Biography . I . Henry . Hall . The New York Tribune Company . 283 . 1895 . 2021-12-03 . Internet Archive.
2. http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/civil-war/1863/december/charles-gunther.htm "The Mayor Elect"
3. News: Obituary: Ex-Mayor C. Godfrey Gunther . . 5 . January 24, 1885 . 2021-12-03 . Newspapers.com.