James Mather (politician)
James Mather | |
---|---|
Mayor of New Orleans | |
In office 1807–1812 | |
Preceded by | John Watkins |
Succeeded by | Charles Trudeau |
Personal details | |
Born | 1750 Coupland, England |
Died | October 7, 1821 Lutcher, Louisiana |
Spouse | Frances Mather |
Children | 5 |
James Mather (c. 1750 – October 7, 1821) was mayor of
His place of birth is variously given as Coupland in Northumberland; or London. A merchant by trade, he moved to America in 1776, and by 1780 he was working in New Orleans, contracting with the Spanish Government to operate two vessels out of the port and importing articles required in the trade with the native peoples of Louisiana (New Spain) and West Florida.
Mather and his descendants owned a large sugar plantation in Lutcher, Louisiana, until 1879.[2]
He was appointed mayor of New Orleans by
Mather attempted to establish a viable police force for the city, but failed. He succeeded, however, in creating a tolerably efficient fire department.
The last years of his administration saw him under fire for being under the influence of certain individuals, for failing to protect the city's interests by vetoing the resolutions of the city council, and for hiring people to write anonymous letters attacking his enemies and paying them with public funds: whether any of this was true has proved impossible to determine. In 1812, however, his health was infirm, and he resigned.
James Mather retired to his son's property on the "Acadian Coast" along the Mississippi River, where he died in 1821.
References
- ^ John Kendall's History of Louisiana, 1922, Chapter VI, accessed 10 Sept 2015.
- ^ StoppingPoints.com. "James Mather Historical Marker".
External links
- MATHER, James J. in Louisiana Historical Association's Dictionary of Louisiana Biography
- Mather as mayor of New Orleans (in Kendall's history of New Orleans)
- Mather administration on N.O. Public Library website, transcription of a 1940 WPA compilation of the city's mayors
- Letter dated 28 November 1807, from Charles Trudeau to the mayor at Louisiana Digital Library, in French, with biographical profile listing James Mather's family members.
- James Mather at Find a Grave