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."The Mayor Elect", Harper's Weekly, December 19, 1863, at 813. 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
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