James J. Mather

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MATHER, James J., merchant, politician, planter. Born Coupland, Northumberland, England, ca. 1750; son of Peter and Eleanor Mather. Emigrated to America, ca. 1776. Established mercantile firm with George Morgan in 1776; later in business with Arthur Strother. Acquired extensive land holdings in Southeast Louisiana. Appointed to Louisiana Legislative Council, 1804 and again in 1806; judge, county of Lafourche, 1805; and mayor of New Orleans, March, 1807. Reappointed annually as mayor through 1812. Resigned in May, 1812, probably due to bad health. Retired to estate in St. James Parish. Trustee, College of Orleans; director, Orleans Navigation Co., 1808-1810. Married Frances (?). Five children: James; George (q.v.); Ann, wife of Philip Hickey (q.v.); Frances Sophia, wife of Abner L. Duncan; and Isabel, wife of William Wykoff. Protestant. Died, St. James Parish, October 7, 1821; interred St. Michael's Cemetery, Convent, La. W.E. Sources: Clarence E. Carter, ed., Territorial Papers of the United States, Vol. IX, The Territory of Orleans (1940); Marie M. Campbell, Nostalgic Notes on St. James (1977); Work Projects Administration, ed., Administrations of the Mayors of New Orleans (1940).