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Abraham J. Berry
Physician, first mayor of Williamsburgh, Brooklyn, NYC From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Abraham J. Berry (c. 1797–1865),[1] a physician, was the first mayor of "the independent city of Williamsburgh."[2][3]
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Early life
Berry "was born in New York City and educated as a physician."[4] "Dr. Berry became one of the most admired and recognized figures in the city" partly due to his 1832 work with cholera patients.[4]
First mayor of Williamsburgh
Among his accomplishments leading up to and becoming the first mayor of Williamsburgh (1852–1853)[5] were:[4]
- a ferry linking to Manhattan
- dropping the h from Williamsburgh[6]
- "his 1855 proposal[7] consolidated Williamsburg with the rest of Brooklyn."
Following his term in office, Berry was unsuccessful in a four-way race for a congressional seat.[8] In 1851, prior to his mayoral term in office, he was an election supervisor, appointing election inspectors.[9] Only one other person served after him as mayor of Williamburgh.[10][11]
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Civil War
"At the beginning of the Civil War, Dr. Berry enlisted as a surgeon in the 38th New York Infantry."[4] [12] He died[5] "the result of a fever he contracted during that time."[4]
Family
He had a wife,[13] a daughter named Julia (d. 1906),[14] and a son John (c. 1835–1915).[15]
Legacy
The name Berry in Williamsburg's Berry Playground[16] at 106 South Third Street,[17] between Bedford Avenue and Berry Street, refers to:[4]
- nearby Berry Street
- the street was named for his family
- that he was a physician, and the park's address is linked to a since-closed hospital.
References
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