Martin Behrman Explained

Martin Behrman
Order:	35th Mayor of New Orleans
Term Start1:	December 5, 1904
Term End1:	December 20, 1920
Predecessor1:	Paul Capdevielle
Successor1:	Andrew J. McShane
Term Start2:	May 4, 1925
Term End2:	January 12, 1926
Predecessor2:	Andrew J. McShane
Successor2:	Arthur J. O'Keefe
Birth Date:	October 14, 1864
Birth Place:	New York City, New York, U.S.
Death Place:	New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Party:	Democratic
Signature:	Signature of Martin Behrman.png

Martin Behrman (October 14, 1864 – January 12, 1926), an American Democratic politician, was the longest-serving mayor in New Orleans history.

Life and career

Behrman was born in New York City, the son of Frederica and Henry Behrman.^[1] His parents were emigrants from Germany. He was ethnically Jewish, but "knew little about his faith."^[2] His parents brought him to New Orleans as an infant. He lived most of his life in the Algiers neighborhood, on the west bank of the Mississippi River. As a young man he became affiliated with the Regular Democratic Organization, a powerful political faction in New Orleans, during the 1888 campaign of Francis T. Nicholls for governor of Louisiana.^[3] Behrman served as a delegate to the Louisiana state constitutional convention in 1898.^[4]

Behrman eventually served as mayor for just under 17 years, first from 1904 to 1920. After four consecutive terms he was defeated by reform candidate Andrew J. McShane. Behrman ran again in 1925 and won, serving from 1925; he died in New Orleans on January 12, 1926, less than a year into his fifth term.^[5]

Books by or about Martin Behrman

• Book: Behrman, Martin . 1977 . Martin Behrman of New Orleans: memoirs of a city boss . Louisiana State University Press . . 77006781 .
• Book: Kendall, John Smith . 1922 . History of New Orleans . Lewis Publishing Company . . Chapter XXXV, Sixteen Years of Martin Behrman . https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/America/United_States/Louisiana/New_Orleans/_Texts/KENHNO/35*.html . 22022725 .
• Book: Reynolds, George M. (George Millar) . 1936 . Machine politics in New Orleans, 1897-1926: Studies in history, economics, and public law, no. 421 . AMS Press . New York . 37016676 .
• Book: Celestín, Ray . 2014 . The Axeman’s Jazz. Macmillan Publishers Limited .

Quotes

• "You can make it illegal, but you can't make it unpopular" (in reference to the closing of the Storyville district).

Places/things named after Martin Behrman

• Behrman Avenue, New Orleans
• Behrman Highway, New Orleans
• Behrman Memorial Park, including Behrman Gym & Stadium, 2529 General Meyer Avenue, New Orleans^[6]
• Behrman neighborhood in Algiers
• Martin Behrman Avenue, Metairie, Louisiana
• Martin Behrman Walk, Metairie, Louisiana
• Martin Behrman Senior High School, whose faculty included State Senator Olaf Fink, later known as Martin Behrman Middle School, then Martin Behrman Elementary School, and finally Martin Behrman Charter School; 715 Opelousas Avenue, New Orleans^[7]
• SS Martin Behrman, a World War II Liberty ship

Notes and References

1. Web site: Martin Behrman - 64 Parishes.
2. Book: Widmer, Mary Lou. New Orleans, 1900 to 1920. 2007. Pelican Publishing. 9781589804012. 58. en.
3. Web site: Behrman Neighborhood . Greater New Orleans Community Data Center . 2006-03-05.
4. Web site: Index to Politicians: Beetie to Belch . The Political Graveyard . 2006-03-05.
5. Web site: Mayor Martin Behrman Records . City Archives, New Orleans Public Library . 2006-03-05.
6. Web site: New Orleans Parks and Squares . City Archives, New Orleans Public Library . 2006-03-05.
7. Web site: Our Schools . Algiers Charter Schools Association . 2006-03-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20051124123002/http://www.algierscharterschools.org/schools.htm . 2005-11-24.