David Mathews | |
---|---|
43rd Mayor of New York City | |
In office 1776–1783 | |
Preceded by | Whitehead Hicks |
Succeeded by | James Duane |
Personal details | |
Born | c. 1739 New York, British America |
Died | July 28, 1800 (aged 60-61) Sydney, Nova Scotia |
Spouse |
Sarah Seymour (m. 1758) |
Alma mater | Princeton University (AM) |
David Mathews (c. 1739 – July 28, 1800) was an American born British lawyer and politician from New York City. He was a Loyalist during the American Revolutionary War and was the 43rd and last Colonial Mayor of New York City from 1776 until 1783. As New York City was the center of British control of the Colonies during the war, he was one of the highest ranking civilian authorities in the Colonies during this period. He was accused of supporting a plan led by Thomas Hickey to kill the Revolutionary General George Washington. He resettled in Nova Scotia after the war, and became a leading political figure in the Cape Breton colony that was created in 1786.