Peter L. Cunningham | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 9th Mayor of South Norwalk, Connecticut | |
| In office 1883–1884 | |
| Preceded by | Christian Swartz |
| Succeeded by | Richard H. Golden |
| Member of the Connecticut House of Representatives from Norwalk | |
| In office 1861–1862 | |
| Preceded by | William T. Craw, Samuel Olmstead |
| Succeeded by | Josiah Carter, Ebenezer J. Hill |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 15, 1814
[1] New York City [1] |
| Died | April 22, 1899 (aged 84) Norwalk Hospital Norwalk, Connecticut |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Amelia Chichester |
| Children | Mary |
| Residence(s) | South Norwalk, Connecticut |
| Signature |
 |
| Military service | |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel [2] |
| Unit | 8th Regiment Connecticut Volunteers [2] |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War [2] |
Peter L. Cunningham (August 14, 1814 – April 22, 1899) was a one-term mayor of South Norwalk, Connecticut in 1883.
He was born in New York City on August 14, 1814. [1] He came to Old Well (now South Norwalk), Connecticut in the spring of 1834. [1]
In 1840, he organized the First Rifle Company (known as the Mohican Rifle Corps) of the Ninth Regiment, Fourth Brigade, C.S.S. [1] He was its commander for several years. [1]
In 1858, he was appointed colonel on the staff of Governor William A.Buckingham. [1]
In 1861, he was appointed Lieutenant Colonel of the Eighth Connecticut Volunteers, but resigned the commission after four months with an honorable discharge. [1] In that same year, he was elected to the Connecticut House of Representatives from Norwalk. He was a member of the Military Committee of the Legislature of Connecticut. [1] In that committee, he proposed that $3 million should be appropriated for the defense of the Union. That proposal was passed by both chambers of the legislature. [1] Another $3 million would subsequently be approved. [1]
From 1877 to 1879, Cunningham served on the South Norwalk City Council as its senior member. [1] He served as mayor from 1883 to 1884. [1]
He served as a director on the boards of the Central Nation Bank, the First National Bank, and the Norwalk Gas Company. [1]
Associations
- Member (May 11, 1843), Noble Grand (January 1843); Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Our Brothers Lodge, No. 10 [1]
- Charter Member (September 17, 1845), Kalosa Encampment [1]
- Grand Patriarch of the State of Connecticut (1853, 1854) [1]
- Grand Representative to the Grand Lodge of the United States, held at Baltimore, Md. (1854 and 1855) [1]
- Grand Master of the State of Connecticut (1869, 1870) [1]
- Grand Representative to the United States Grand Lodge held at Chicago and Baltimore (1870, 1871) [1]
- Member, St. John’s Lodge, No. 6 of Free and Accepted Masons, Norwalk. (April 29, 1847) [1]
- Member, Clinton Commandery, Norwalk (February 11, 1853) [1]
- Royal Arch Mason [1]
- Knights Templar [1]
Death
On April 22, 1899, Cunningham died suddenly while vising the Norwalk Hospital to view the building under construction. [1] He fell while walking down a decline at the back of the building, and died shortly thereafter. [1] The cause of death was believed to be apoplexy. [1]
References
- 1814 births
- 1899 deaths
- American Freemasons
- American people of Scottish descent
- Connecticut city council members
- Mayors of Norwalk, Connecticut
- Republican Party members of the Connecticut House of Representatives
- Politicians from New York City
- People of Connecticut in the American Civil War
- Military personnel from Connecticut
- 19th-century American legislators
- 19th-century Connecticut politicians