Wood, Fernando

Wood, Fernando

▪ American politician
born June 14, 1812, Philadelphia, Pa., U.S.
died Feb. 14, 1881, Hot Springs, Ark.
 American congressional representative and mayor of New York City who led the Northern peace Democrats (Copperhead)—or “Copperheads”—during the American Civil War.

      Wood grew up in Philadelphia and New York City, acquiring considerable wealth as a merchant and real estate investor. He entered politics as a Democrat in 1834 and shortly thereafter emerged a leader of Tammany Hall. He served one term in Congress (1841–43), and he was defeated in his first run for mayor of New York City in 1850.

      He triumphed in the 1854 mayoral election, however, and he was reelected in 1856 and 1859. Although upstate Republicans accused Wood of graft and Tammany Hall charged him with failing to award patronage to his own party, Wood did succeed in creating Central Park and making important reforms. When he lost the backing of Tammany Hall, Wood formed his own powerful political organization, Mozart Hall.

      In 1860 Wood led a pro-Southern delegation to the Democratic National Convention, and as civil war loomed early in 1861, he called for New York City to secede and become a free city. Although he briefly supported President Abraham Lincoln and the Northern war effort, by 1863 he was organizing the peace Democrats (called “Copperheads” by Republicans) and demanding that the North negotiate an immediate end to the war.

      Elected to Congress in 1862 and again from 1866 to 1880, Wood opposed Republican Reconstruction policies but generally supported Republican fiscal measures. His independence alienated fellow Democrats, and they refused to elect him speaker of the House in 1875. But in 1877 Wood was elected majority floor leader and made chairman of the Ways and Means Committee. He served in the House of Representatives until his death.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Fernando Wood — (14 juin 1812 14 février 1881) était un homme politique américain membre du parti démocrate qui fut maire de New York de 1860 à 1862. Il fut une personnalité politique de premier plan du fait de son rôle essentiel auprès du Tammany Hall,… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Fernando Wood — (June 141812 February 141881) is famous for being one of the most colorful mayors in the history of New York.Wood was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His Spanish sounding forename was chosen by his mother, who found it in an English gothic… …   Wikipedia

  • Fernando Pessoa — Photo by Victoriano Braga (1914) Born Fernando António Nogueira de Seabra Pessoa June 13, 1888(1888 06 13) Lisbon, Portugal Died …   Wikipedia

  • Fernando Castro Pacheco — (January 26, 1918 ) is a Mexican painter, engraver, illustrator, print maker and teacher. As well as being known for traditional artistic forms, Castro Pacheco illustrated several children’s books and produced works in sculpture. He is more… …   Wikipedia

  • Wood (surname) — Wood, also spelled Wode, Woode, Woodde, or Wad is a surname that is common throughout the anglophone world.In England, Wales and the Isle of Man it is the 26th most common surname [cite web last = first = authorlink = coauthors = title =Most… …   Wikipedia

  • Fernando Villapol — Parapar (born February 26, 1953 in San Tirso de Abres, Asturias Spain) is a museum curator and art critic, most famous as a contemporary Galician sculptorcite web url = http://www.elcorreogallego.es/index.php?idMenu=13 idEdicion=683… …   Wikipedia

  • Fernando Perez (baseball) — Fernando Perez …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Dom Fernando II e Glória — The Dom Fernando II e Glória, anchored in Ponta Delgada, Azores, during her last sea mission in 1878 Career (Portugal) …   Wikipedia

  • Charles C. Wood Taylor — Retrato de Carlos Wood Charles C. Wood Taylor conocido en Chile como Carlos Wood Taylor (Liverpool, 25 de abril de 1792 † Londres, 19 de febrero de 1856) Pintor, ingeniero, marino y militar …   Wikipedia Español

  • Mission San Fernando Rey de España — Another mission bearing the name San Fernando Rey de España is the Misión San Fernando Rey de España de Velicatá in Baja California. Mission San Fernando Rey de España Mission San Fernando Rey de España, circa 1910 …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”