| Louisiana Division New Orleans Public Library | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Administrations of the Mayors of New Orleans Captain Stephen Hoyt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Captain Stephen Hoyt, officer of volunteers, whose home was in the western part of the United States, was appointed mayor in February 1864. Shortly after his inauguration he called on Dr. Hugh Kennedy and asked him to accept the mayoralty. He then returned to the West at the end of his term. In respect to Acting Mayor Hoyt we have no hesitation in stating that he administered the office as wisely as any one could have done who was so new to the people. He did not understand or like New Orleans. He seemed to have identified himself completely with the movement for the organization of the white and colored races. One of his most important public acts was to assist at the great negro mass meeting held in Congo Square on May 11, 1864, in honor of the adoption by the constitutional convention of the article abolishing slavery. Under Hoyt, the finances of the city were reduced to the lowest possible ebb. Public pauperism was widespread among the people. Hoyt, in relinquishing the mayoralty in March, 1865, said that there had not been a time during his entire administration when he would not have gladly retired, so impossible had he found the task of controlling the incompetency and dishonesty which existed in the city government.
Members of the Hoyt Administration | February 9, 1864-March 21, 1865
Next: Kennedy | Back to the Introduction
10/23/2002
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