Martin Behrman

American mayor

Martin Behrman (October 14, 1864 – January 12, 1926), an American Democratic politician, was the longest-serving mayor in New Orleans history.

Life and career

Behrman was born in New York City, the son of Frederica and Henry Behrman.^[1] His parents were emigrants from Germany. He was ethnically Jewish, but "knew little about his faith."^[2] His parents brought him to New Orleans as an infant. He lived most of his life in the Algiers neighborhood, on the west bank of the Mississippi River. As a young man he became affiliated with the Regular Democratic Organization, a powerful political faction in New Orleans, during the 1888 campaign of Francis T. Nicholls for governor of Louisiana.^[3] Behrman served as a delegate to the Louisiana state constitutional convention in 1898.^[4]

Behrman eventually served as mayor for just under 17 years, first from 1904 to 1920. After four consecutive terms he was defeated by reform candidate Andrew J. McShane. Behrman ran again in 1925 and won, serving from 1925; he died in New Orleans on January 12, 1926, less than a year into his fifth term.^[5]

Books by or about Martin Behrman

• Behrman, Martin (1977). Martin Behrman of New Orleans: memoirs of a city boss. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press. LCCN 77006781.
• Kendall, John Smith (1922). "Chapter XXXV, Sixteen Years of Martin Behrman". History of New Orleans. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company. LCCN 22022725.
• Reynolds, George M. (George Millar) (1936). Machine politics in New Orleans, 1897-1926: Studies in history, economics, and public law, no. 421. New York: AMS Press. LCCN 37016676.
• Celestín, Ray (2014). The Axeman’s Jazz. Macmillan Publishers Limited.

Quotes

• "You can make it illegal, but you can't make it unpopular" (in reference to the closing of the Storyville district).

Places/things named after Martin Behrman

• Behrman Avenue, New Orleans
• Behrman Highway, New Orleans
• Behrman Memorial Park, including Behrman Gym & Stadium, 2529 General Meyer Avenue, New Orleans^[6]
• Behrman neighborhood in Algiers^[3]
• Martin Behrman Avenue, Metairie, Louisiana
• Martin Behrman Walk, Metairie, Louisiana
• Martin Behrman Senior High School, whose faculty included State Senator Olaf Fink, later known as Martin Behrman Middle School, then Martin Behrman Elementary School, and finally Martin Behrman Charter School; 715 Opelousas Avenue, New Orleans^[7]
• SS Martin Behrman, a World War II Liberty ship

References

1. "Martin Behrman - 64 Parishes".
2. Widmer, Mary Lou (2007). New Orleans, 1900 to 1920. Pelican Publishing. p. 58. ISBN 9781589804012.
3. "Behrman Neighborhood". Greater New Orleans Community Data Center. Retrieved March 5, 2006.
4. "Index to Politicians: Beetie to Belch". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved March 5, 2006.
5. "Mayor Martin Behrman Records". City Archives, New Orleans Public Library. Retrieved March 5, 2006.
6. "New Orleans Parks and Squares". City Archives, New Orleans Public Library. Retrieved March 5, 2006.
7. "Our Schools". Algiers Charter Schools Association. Archived from the original on November 24, 2005. Retrieved March 5, 2006.