William J. Behan (1840-1928) was an American Confederate veteran and politician. He served as the 41st mayor of New Orleans (November 20, 1882 – April 28, 1884).
Behan was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on September 25, 1840, to his Irish immigrant parents, John Holland Behan and Katherine Behan. He was the eldest of three boys, William J., Frank, and Isaac D. With deep family ties to the city, Behan was destined from a young age to live out his days in the area. William attended the Western Military Institute in Nashville, Tennessee. Behan became Captain of the Mistick Krewe of Comus.[1]
After the war, Behan headed the implementation of the Crescent CityWhite League. This paramilitary group consisted of Confederate veterans who sought to keep Republicans from taking office. It was described by many to be the "Military arm of the Democratic Party.
Behan's involvement in the formation of this led to his nomination from the Democratic Party for the Mayor of New Orleans. He won in what is considered a landslide political victory in the 1882 election. He became the first Mayor in the new city charter which was constructed in the post-war process. In 1884, after two years in office, Behan lost his incumbent position in what is considered to be an travesty to the Democratic selection.[according to whom?] The popular vote in the election was thrown out and was deemed inconclusive, and the decision was made by a "Ring" of influential politicians. He was then ousted by fellow Democrat J. Valsin Guillotte. Outraged by this decision, Behan left the party and joined the Republicans. In 1904, Behand ran as the Republican candidate for governor of Louisiana, but was thoroughly defeated by Democrat Newton Blanchard. After the defeat, he stated that he would never strive to be Mayor of New Orleans for the rest of his life.
After leaving politics, Behan found riches as a business merchant and a manufacturer of sugar. He also was a partner in the Zuberbeir and Behan groceries company.
Deathedit
Behan died May 4, 1928, on Jackson Avenue at his home in New Orleans.
^"Lot Information". Nealauction.com. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
^"Administrations of the Mayors of New Orleans: Behan." Administrations of the Mayors of New Orleans: Behan. Louisiana Division, New Orleans Public Library, 19 Nov. 2002. Web. 26 Feb. 2013.
^Current, Richard N. The Confederacy: Selections from the Four-volume Simon & Schuster Encyclopedia of the Confederacy. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 1998. Print.
^Hirsch, Arnold R., and Joseph Logsdon. "The People And Culture of New Orleans" New Orleans Online, n.d. Web. 1 Apr. 2013.
^Miller, Mike. Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Louisiana 2 (1997): 279-80.USGW Archives. Web. 25 Mar. 2013.
^"Mrs. William J. Behan Obituary." Louisiana Research Collection [New Orleans] 1920: n. pag. Print.
^Nystrom, Justin A. New Orleans after the Civil War: Race, Politics, and a New Birth of Freedom. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins UP, 2010. Print.
^Solomon, Clara, and Elliott Ashkenazi. The Civil War Diary of Clara Solomon: Growing up in New Orleans, 1861-1862. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State UP, 1995. Print.
^United States of America. New Orleans. Office of the Mayor. Mayor Records 1862-1920. N.p.:Print.
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This article has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these template messages This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources William J Behan news newspapers books scholar JSTOR June 2012 Learn how and when to remove this template message This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations November 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message Learn how and when to remove this template message William J Behan 1840 1928 was an American Confederate veteran and politician He served as the 41st mayor of New Orleans November 20 1882 April 28 1884 William Behan1893 portrait of Major William J BehanMayor of New OrleansIn office November 20 1882 April 28 1884Preceded byJoseph A ShakspeareSucceeded byJ Valsin GuillottePersonal detailsBornSeptember 25 1840New Orleans LouisianaDiedMay 4 1928 aged 87 New Orleans LouisianaPolitical partyDemocraticOther politicalaffiliationsRepublicanAlma materWestern Military InstituteMilitary serviceAllegianceConfederate StatesBranch service Confederate States ArmyYears of service1861 1865RankMajorUnitWashington ArtilleryBattles warsAmerican Civil War Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Death 4 ReferencesEarly life edit nbsp William Behan as an officer during the Civil War Behan was born in New Orleans Louisiana on September 25 1840 to his Irish immigrant parents John Holland Behan and Katherine Behan He was the eldest of three boys William J Frank and Isaac D With deep family ties to the city Behan was destined from a young age to live out his days in the area William attended the Western Military Institute in Nashville Tennessee Behan became Captain of the Mistick Krewe of Comus 1 Behan joined the Washington Artillery of the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War of 1861 1865 He held at the time the notoriety of being the youngest officer under that section of General Robert E Lee s forces citation needed He became a major in the CSA Career editAfter the war Behan headed the implementation of the Crescent City White League This paramilitary group consisted of Confederate veterans who sought to keep Republicans from taking office It was described by many to be the Military arm of the Democratic Party Behan s involvement in the formation of this led to his nomination from the Democratic Party for the Mayor of New Orleans He won in what is considered a landslide political victory in the 1882 election He became the first Mayor in the new city charter which was constructed in the post war process In 1884 after two years in office Behan lost his incumbent position in what is considered to be an travesty to the Democratic selection according to whom The popular vote in the election was thrown out and was deemed inconclusive and the decision was made by a Ring of influential politicians He was then ousted by fellow Democrat J Valsin Guillotte Outraged by this decision Behan left the party and joined the Republicans In 1904 Behand ran as the Republican candidate for governor of Louisiana but was thoroughly defeated by Democrat Newton Blanchard After the defeat he stated that he would never strive to be Mayor of New Orleans for the rest of his life After leaving politics Behan found riches as a business merchant and a manufacturer of sugar He also was a partner in the Zuberbeir and Behan groceries company Death editBehan died May 4 1928 on Jackson Avenue at his home in New Orleans References edit 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Lot Information Nealauction com Retrieved June 9 2012 Administrations of the Mayors of New Orleans Behan Administrations of the Mayors of New Orleans Behan Louisiana Division New Orleans Public Library 19 Nov 2002 Web 26 Feb 2013 Current Richard N The Confederacy Selections from the Four volume Simon amp Schuster Encyclopedia of the Confederacy New York Macmillan Reference USA 1998 Print Hirsch Arnold R and Joseph Logsdon The People And Culture of New Orleans New Orleans Online n d Web 1 Apr 2013 Miller Mike Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Louisiana 2 1997 279 80 USGW Archives Web 25 Mar 2013 Mrs William J Behan Obituary Louisiana Research Collection New Orleans 1920 n pag Print Nystrom Justin A New Orleans after the Civil War Race Politics and a New Birth of Freedom Baltimore MD Johns Hopkins UP 2010 Print Solomon Clara and Elliott Ashkenazi The Civil War Diary of Clara Solomon Growing up in New Orleans 1861 1862 Baton Rouge Louisiana State UP 1995 Print United States of America New Orleans Office of the Mayor Mayor Records 1862 1920 N p Print nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to William J Behan Party political officesPreceded byE Reems Republican nominee for Governor of Louisiana1904 Succeeded byHenry N PharrPolitical officesPreceded byJoseph A Shakspeare Mayor of New OrleansNovember 20 1882 April 28 1884 Succeeded byJ Valsin Guillotte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William J Behan amp oldid 1199922808, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
