biography
| sex:
| male
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| lived:
| (1812–81)
|
| biography:
| US representative, mayor, and businessman, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. As a Tammany Hall Democrat, he served New York City in the US House of Representatives (1841–3), and then made a fortune as a merchant from the California gold rush of 1849. Again as a Tammany candidate, he served as mayor of New York City (1855–9), and although he achieved some good things, notably in helping to create Central Park, his administration was marked by widespread graft and crime. Tammany Hall rejected him so he formed his own ticket, which he called Mozart Hall, and was elected for a third term (1859–61). Opposed to the Civil War, he joined with C L Vallandigham to form the Peace Democrats in 1863. He went on to serve in the US House of Representatives (Democrat, New York, 1863–5, 1867–81), and although he often opposed his own party, he managed to gain leadership roles and overcome the dubious associations of his past. |
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