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Charles Godfrey Gunther
Photo of Gunther by Mathew Brady
77th Mayor of New York City
In office 1864–1866
Preceded by	George Opdyke
Succeeded by	John T. Hoffman
Personal details
Born	April 7, 1822 New York City, New York, U.S.
Died	January 22, 1885 (1885-01-23) (aged 62) New York City, New York, U.S.
Resting place	Green-Wood Cemetery
Political party	Democratic

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. 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 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.

Later life

After leaving politics, Gunther became a railroad executive, working in that capacity until his death in New York on January 22, 1885.

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

See also

• German Americans

Notes

1. At least once source gives his birthdate as February 7, 1822.

References

1. ^ "Volunteer Fireman: public service start & a lifelong association". New York Correction History Society. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
2. ^ Hall, Henry, ed. (1895). America's Successful Men of Affairs: An Encyclopedia of Contemporaneous Biography. Vol. I. The New York Tribune Company. p. 283. Retrieved December 3, 2021 – via Internet Archive.
3. "The Mayor Elect", Harper's Weekly, December 19, 1863, at 813.
4. "Obituary: Ex-Mayor C. Godfrey Gunther". The New York Times. January 24, 1885. p. 5. Retrieved December 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.

v t e 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 Riemer 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

• Mayors of New York City
• American people of German descent
• 1822 births
• 1885 deaths
• Burials at Green-Wood Cemetery
• 19th-century mayors of places in New York (state)
• New York (state) Democrats