Thomas Coman

Thomas Coman
Thomas Coman, President of the New York City Board of Aldermen, acting Mayor of New York
Born	1836 (1836) Ireland
Died	October 22, 1909 (1909-10-23) (aged 73)

Thomas Coman (August, 1836 – October 22, 1909) was President of the New York City Board of Aldermen from 1868 to 1871, and Acting Mayor of New York for several weeks at the end of 1868 and beginning of 1869.

Coman was born in Ireland in August, 1836 and his family immigrated to the United States when he was two years old. They settled in New York City, and Coman was educated locally and graduated from the New York City College in 1856.

At the start of his career, Coman worked as a printer, a reporter for the New York Herald, and a clerk in the New York City Post Office.

He was later admitted to the bar, practiced law, and served as a Magistrate of the New York City Police Court.

In September, 1856 Coman became a volunteer firefighter when he joined Eagle Engine Company Number 13. He was soon elected Secretary, and in 1859 won election as Foreman. He was reelected annually until 1864, and was still in command when the volunteer fire department was replaced by a paid department in 1865. During the draft riots in 1863 Coman's fire company was among the fire units that performed law enforcement duties and aided the police and military in restoring order.

A Democrat and member of the Tammany Hall organization, Coman served on the New York City Board of Aldermen from 1868 to 1871. As the board's president, he became acting mayor when John Thompson Hoffman resigned to become governor. A. Oakey Hall was elected to succeed Hoffman as mayor, and Coman served from Hoffman's resignation on December 1, 1868 until Hall's swearing in on January 4, 1869.

After he left his alderman's seat, Mayor Hall appointed Coman one of the commissioners to oversee construction of the New York County Courthouse. In 1873 Coman and the other commissioners were indicted for conspiracy related to the Tweed Ring's corruption in the construction of the courthouse. He was also sued in civil court with one of his fellow commissioners, with the city seeking to claim city money it said they had obtained by fraud. By 1876 the criminal case had ended with a Nolle prosequi decision by the district attorney, and the civil suit had been discontinued.