Matsell was born in New York City to George Joshua Matsell, an immigrant from Walsingham, Norfolk, England. He worked as an apprentice in his father's bookstore on Broadway during his childhood, eventually opening a bookstore of his own on Chatham Street after spending several years as a sailor. His bookstore became notorious for carrying the works of Freethinkers such as Thomas Paine, as well as spiritualists, attracting an educated clientele and making him prosperous. He married Ellen Miriam Barrett on April 6, 1834. He became a police magistrate in 1840. In later years his enemies claimed he was born in England, and immigrated at age 5-6; he claimed to be born in 1807.[1]
Observing that the city had long since outgrown the outdated city guard system, Matsell began organizing regular night patrols throughout the city, especially along the New York riverfront, where they made several arrests and were successful in preventing criminal activities. Matsell's efforts would soon influence police reforms which would not only be adopted in New York with the passage of the Municipal Police Act in 1844, but throughout the United States as well.
Under the act, police departments were given a larger responsibility over the city and New York Mayor William Frederick Havemeyer would soon promote Matsell as police chief of the newly created New York City Police Department. Among the new reforms under Matsell's administration, patrol methods were improved and a strict discipline instilled, the results of which would be seen during the Astor Place Riots of 1849 and common violence seen during between Nativist and Tammany supporters during New York's political elections. Matsell would also seek to establish a special police division to patrol the cities river and waterfront areas, with property values at an estimated $350 million ($12.8 billion in present-day terms[2]), to protect against the numerous river pirates of the period.
In 1857, the Metropolitan Police Act was passed by the state legislature in favor of the previous Municipal Police Act over a decade earlier and allowed the establishment of a police commission to oversee the New York's law enforcement. In the ensuing battle for control of the NYPD however, Matsell was forced to resign his position as the commission assumed administrative control. See New York City Police Riot. In 1859 he was the author of Vocabulum, or, The rogue's lexicon: compiled from the most authentic sources,[3] a dictionary of American thieves' cant.
Upon the reelection of Havemeyer in 1871, Matsell was again nominated for a position as superintendent of police. He was soon appointed as a police commissioner, and officially elected president of the board of police commissioners in July 1873. His return would only be a brief one as, with the defeat of Havemayer the following year, Matsell left along with him returning to the law firm which had previously established.
^Other sources state that Wilkes sold the Gazette shortly after his purchase of The Spirit of the Times in 1856, and that Matsell was the publisher of the Gazette through the American Civil War.[5]
^1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda(PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States(PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
^See also Vocabulum, or, The rogue's lexicon: compiled from the most authentic sources at Google Books
^Mott, Frank Luther (1938). A History of American Magazines 1741–1850. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. pp. 328, 418 and footnote 132. OCLC 1893743.
^Betts, John Rickards (Spring 1953). "Sporting Journalism in Nineteenth-Century America". American Quarterly. 5 (1): 42. doi:10.2307/3031289. JSTOR 3031289.
^"Death of George W. Matsell". New York Times. July 26, 1877. Retrieved 2011-05-10. George Washington Matsell, ex-President of the Board of Police, and twice Superintendent of Police in the City, died at 7:10 A.M. yesterday, at his residence in East Fifty-eighth-street, after an illness extending over three weeks. At his bedside were his wife, three sons, and his daughter. He was conscious and...
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George Washington Matsell October 26 1811 New York City July 25 1877 in Manhattan New York was the first New York City Police Commissioner Contents 1 Biography 2 Notes 3 References 4 External linksBiography editMatsell was born in New York City to George Joshua Matsell an immigrant from Walsingham Norfolk England He worked as an apprentice in his father s bookstore on Broadway during his childhood eventually opening a bookstore of his own on Chatham Street after spending several years as a sailor His bookstore became notorious for carrying the works of Freethinkers such as Thomas Paine as well as spiritualists attracting an educated clientele and making him prosperous He married Ellen Miriam Barrett on April 6 1834 He became a police magistrate in 1840 In later years his enemies claimed he was born in England and immigrated at age 5 6 he claimed to be born in 1807 1 Observing that the city had long since outgrown the outdated city guard system Matsell began organizing regular night patrols throughout the city especially along the New York riverfront where they made several arrests and were successful in preventing criminal activities Matsell s efforts would soon influence police reforms which would not only be adopted in New York with the passage of the Municipal Police Act in 1844 but throughout the United States as well Under the act police departments were given a larger responsibility over the city and New York Mayor William Frederick Havemeyer would soon promote Matsell as police chief of the newly created New York City Police Department Among the new reforms under Matsell s administration patrol methods were improved and a strict discipline instilled the results of which would be seen during the Astor Place Riots of 1849 and common violence seen during between Nativist and Tammany supporters during New York s political elections Matsell would also seek to establish a special police division to patrol the cities river and waterfront areas with property values at an estimated 350 million 12 8 billion in present day terms 2 to protect against the numerous river pirates of the period In 1857 the Metropolitan Police Act was passed by the state legislature in favor of the previous Municipal Police Act over a decade earlier and allowed the establishment of a police commission to oversee the New York s law enforcement In the ensuing battle for control of the NYPD however Matsell was forced to resign his position as the commission assumed administrative control See New York City Police Riot In 1859 he was the author of Vocabulum or The rogue s lexicon compiled from the most authentic sources 3 a dictionary of American thieves cant In 1866 George Wilkes and Enoch Camp sold the National Police Gazette to Matsell 4 a Upon the reelection of Havemeyer in 1871 Matsell was again nominated for a position as superintendent of police He was soon appointed as a police commissioner and officially elected president of the board of police commissioners in July 1873 His return would only be a brief one as with the defeat of Havemayer the following year Matsell left along with him returning to the law firm which had previously established He died on July 25 1877 6 Notes edit Other sources state that Wilkes sold the Gazette shortly after his purchase of The Spirit of the Times in 1856 and that Matsell was the publisher of the Gazette through the American Civil War 5 References edit New York Times obituary July 26 1877 1634 1699 McCusker J J 1997 How Much Is That in Real Money A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States Addenda et Corrigenda PDF American Antiquarian Society 1700 1799 McCusker J J 1992 How Much Is That in Real Money A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States PDF American Antiquarian Society 1800 present Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Consumer Price Index estimate 1800 Retrieved February 29 2024 See also Vocabulum or The rogue s lexicon compiled from the most authentic sources at Google Books Mott Frank Luther 1938 A History of American Magazines 1741 1850 Cambridge MA Harvard University Press pp 328 418 and footnote 132 OCLC 1893743 Betts John Rickards Spring 1953 Sporting Journalism in Nineteenth Century America American Quarterly 5 1 42 doi 10 2307 3031289 JSTOR 3031289 Death of George W Matsell New York Times July 26 1877 Retrieved 2011 05 10 George Washington Matsell ex President of the Board of Police and twice Superintendent of Police in the City died at 7 10 A M yesterday at his residence in East Fifty eighth street after an illness extending over three weeks At his bedside were his wife three sons and his daughter He was conscious and External links editGeorge W Matsell at Find a Grave Police appointments Preceded byNew office Superintendent of the New York Municipal Police Department1845 1857 Succeeded byOffice abolished Preceded byJames J Kelso Superintendent of the New York City Police Department1873 1874 Succeeded byGeorge W Walling Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title George W Matsell amp oldid 1026612082, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
