John T. Monroe
| John T. Monroe | |
|---|---|
Portrait of John T. Monroe in Gallier Hall, New Orleans
|
|
| 19th Mayor of New Orleans | |
|
In office June 18, 1860 – May 16, 1862 |
|
| 32nd Mayor of New Orleans | |
|
In office May 12, 1866 – March 28, 1867 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born |
May 6, 1822 Howard County, Missouri |
| Died | February 24, 1871 (aged 48) Savannah, Georgia |
| Resting place | Cypress Grove Cemetery, New Orleans |
| Spouse(s) | Rebecca Isadora Shepard |
| Children | 9 children |
John T. Monroe (May 6, 1822 – February 24, 1871) was an American politician who served as the 19th and 32nd Mayor of New Orleans in 1860–1862 and 1866–1867.
He was born in Howard County, Missouri the son of Daniel Munro. Monroe went to New Orleans in 1837, working as a stevedore, and soon becoming a prominent labor leader. In 1858 he was elected Board of Assistant Aldermen, representing the 2nd Ward.
The 1860 campaign for mayor attracted little notice in New Orleans, as all attention was on the Presidential contest. There were three candidates; John T. Monroe, Alexander Grailhe, and Lucius W. Place. Monroe, the nominee of the Native American Party, represented the current administration. Grailhe, an independent, was essentially the anti-administration candidate, who he held responsible for the poor condition of the city. The newspapers of the time were filled with complaints about the stagnant gutters, the weeds that grew along the streets, and the air of general neglect. However, Monroe was elected with 37,027 votes. Grailhe received a much smaller number, and Place hardly any.
There is a story about the Civil War that the white leadership of New Orleans was captured, but never surrendered.
"The capture of New Orleans in April 1862 by Captain David Farragut and General Benjamin Butler brought the name of mayor Monroe before the whole country and the people of the then confederate States and the United States. It soon spread to British journalism and into British Parliament.
"At the approach of the federal fleet, on the morning of April 25, Mayor Monroe, determined to hoist the flag of the State of Louisiana over the City Hall. At his request, his private secretary, Mr. Marion A. Baker, descended to the roof of the building and prepared to execute the mayor’s orders, with the instructions to await the issue of the possible conflict at Chalmette.
"When he heard that the defenses had failed Monroe ordered the flag hoisted.
"Forthwith, two officers of the United States Navy presented Farragut's formal demand for the city's surrender and to lower their flag. Monroe stated that be had no authority to surrender the city and that General Mansfield Lovell was the proper official to receive and to reply to that demand. He refused to lower the flag.
...
Wikipedia