Samuel Stringham Powell (February 16, 1815 – February 6, 1879) was an American businessman, politician, and Mayor of Brooklyn.

Life

Powell was born on February 16, 1815, in

New York City, New York New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on New York Harbor, one of the world's largest natural harb ...

, on Water Street, the son of Jonah Powell and Abigail Stillwell. When Powell was 13, family reverses led him to begin working, initially with a New York store. In 1828, he moved to

Brooklyn Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...

and began working for Sylvanus B. Stillwell, the city's leading clothier. After four years, he began working on his own and became a successful businessman. He was a director of the Central Bank, the Citizens Gas Light Co., and the Nassau and Lafayette Insurance Companies. In 1845, Powell was elected alderman of Second Ward as a

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (Cyprus) (DCY) **Democratic Part ...

. He was later elected

Mayor of Brooklyn Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...

, serving in the office from 1857 to 1861. He was later re-elected as Mayor and served from 1872 to 1873. In 1874, he was elected Comptroller. In 1877, he was appointed Park Commissioner. He was then elected County Treasurer, and his term for the office began in 1878, but his declining health meant he did little in that position. In 1837, Powell married Huldah A. Frazer. They had two children, Thomas Frazer and William Stilwell. Powell died at home from cancer on February 6, 1879. He was buried in his family plot in

Green-Wood Cemetery Green-Wood Cemetery is a cemetery in the western portion of Brooklyn, New York City. The cemetery is located between South Slope, Brooklyn, South Slope/Greenwood Heights, Brooklyn, Greenwood Heights, Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn, Win ...

References

External links

*
The Political Graveyard
'
Samuel S. Powell
at '' Find a Grave'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Powell, Samuel S. 1815 births 1879 deaths Mayors of Brooklyn 19th-century American businesspeople Businesspeople from Brooklyn New York (state) Democrats New York (state) city council members Deaths from cancer in New York (state) Burials at Green-Wood Cemetery 19th-century mayors of places in New York (state)