Hugh John Grant

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Hugh John Grant (b.1852, New York City; d. November 3, 1910, New York City) was four times the Tammany nominee for mayor of New York City. He was defeated in his first campaign for mayor, in 1884. He won his second race for mayor in 1888 and was reelected in 1890. In 1894 he again campaigned for mayor, but lost the election.(1)(2) William Steinway, who generally backed Tammany candidates, was a political supporter of Hugh Grant.

Hugh Grant grew up in a family of modest wealth. His father was a Democrat, a well-connected supporter of Tammany, who was active in Irish-American fraternal organizations. He prospered in real estate. His son's early education was in public and Catholic schools in New York City. He learned German and spent a year of study in Berlin. After attending Columbia Law School for two years, he joined a prominent law firm, but soon established his own law practice. His father's connections helped him launch a political career. Hugh Grant gained the backing of Tammany boss Richard Croker, who controlled the Democratic Party in New York City.(1)

In recognition of his strong support for Tammany candidates, Grant was nominated in 1882 to be alderman in the 19th District of New York City. He won that election and served one term. As an alderman, he became widely known for exposing fraud in the controller's office. Many high officials were found guilty of accepting bribes. In 1884 he was selected to be the party's candidate for mayor. At that time Grant was 31 years old and one of the youngest men to occupy an influential place in the Tammany organization. However, he was defeated in the general election by an anti-Tammany faction of the Democratic Party known as the County Democracy and led by William R. Grace. In the following year, he was nominated for sheriff and won that election by a large majority. He achieved a commendable record as sheriff, giving him greater prominence in the city's politics.(1)

Grant declined to run for office in 1886. He was on the Tammany ticket for mayor in 1888, when he defeated the County Democracy candidate, Abram S. Hewitt, and the Republican candidate, Joel B. Erhardt. (Diary, 1888-10-9, 11-7) Grant was re-elected in 1890, defeating Francis M. Scott, a "fusion candidate" of both the County Democracy and the Republican Party.(Diary, 1890-10-15) Grant was not a candidate in 1892. Tammany had replaced him on the ticket for mayor with Thomas F. Gilroy, who won the election.(1)

The major issue in the 1894 election was the public outrage over widespread corruption in the police force that was revealed in newspapers. Tammany concluded that Grant would be the strongest Democratic candidate for mayor in what promised to be a difficult election for the party. The political organizations demanding reform backed an independent candidate, William M. Strong, who was decisively elected.(Diary, 1894-10-19)

During Mayor Grant's two terms in office (1888-1892), William Steinway often consulted with him on political appointments.(Diary, 1889-04-18) Early in his first term of office, Grant appointed William to the finance committee of a proposed World's Fair of 1892 that was to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus landing in America.(Diary, 1889-08-11) New York, however, was politically outmaneuvered in its campaign to be the site of the fair, which went to Chicago. In 1890, after Grant's reelection, he appointed William to a Rapid Transit Commission, charged with planning a network of subways and elevated trains for the city.(Diary, 1890-12-24) Grant also established the system of placing all electric wiring underground throughout New York City. (1)

Upon losing the 1894 election, Grant retired from active participation in politics, although he remained influential in Tammany until the party's boss, Richard Croker, retired a few years later. Grant spent his retirement years managing the real estate business and large fortune that he inherited. He had been a bachelor for most of his career, but married the daughter of former US Senator Murphy of Troy, NY shortly before his retirement.(1) The couple had three children: Edna, Julia, and Hugh. Grant was a member of the Catholic, Manhattan, Arion, Narragansett, and New York Athletic Clubs. He died in 1910 of Bright's Disease at his New York City home at 20 East Seventy-Second Street. (1)

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Sources:

1. "Ex-Mayor Grant Dies Suddenly," The New York Times, November 4, 1910, p. 1.
2. "Grant, Hugh J." Jackson, Kenneth (ed.), The Encyclopedia of New York City, New York, Yale, 1985, p. 500.