James Mather (politician)

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James Mather


4th 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 New Orleans from March 9, 1807 to May 23, 1812, at which time he resigned.^[1] Mather's five-year administration overlapped, by a few weeks, the transition from the United States' Territory of Orleans period to the State of Louisiana's antebellum period, with New Orleans serving as the first state capital.

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 William C.C. Claiborne, the territorial governor. Almost as soon as became mayor, he was obliged to take measures to defend the city against the possibility of a conspiracy by the friends of Aaron Burr, which, however, did not eventuate. In November 1809, through similar measures, he is credited with suppressing an uprising of the black population.

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

Preceded by John Watkins	Mayor of New Orleans March 9, 1807 – May 23, 1812	Succeeded by Charles Trudeau

Mayors of New Orleans, Louisiana

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