Biography:

Abram Stevens Hewitt served five terms in the United States Congress, and one term as mayor of New York.
He was born in Haverstraw, New York in 1822 and attended Columbia College where he studied law. Shortly after, he became an iron manufacturer when he entered into business with his brother-in-law and formed Copper, Hewitt, & Company. Hewitt served in Congress from 1875-1886.  As a congressman, he fought for tariff reform and served as the Democratic Committee chairman during the disputed presidential election of 1876 in which Democratic candidate Samuel Tilden lost to Rutherford B. Hayes.  In 1883, alongside New York senators William Robinson and Samuel Cox, Hewitt petitioned the President Chester A. Arthur to intervene on behalf of Patrick O’Donnell, a United States citizen who on trial in the United Kingdom for murder.  O’Donnell was found guilty and executed in London.
In 1886 Hewitt became mayor of New York City and tried to end the political influence of Tammany Hall.  He angered many Irish-Americans in New York for his immigration policies and his refusal to allow the Irish flag to be flown during the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.  Hewitt served only one term as mayor.  He died on January 18, 1903 in New York City.