Robert Anderson Van Wyck (July 20, 1849 – 1918) was the first mayor of greater New York. July 20 is the 201st day (202nd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 164 days remaining. ... 1849 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... Nickname: The Big Apple Motto: Official website: City of New York Location Location in the state of New York Government Counties (Boroughs) Bronx (The Bronx) New York (Manhattan) Queens (Queens) Kings (Brooklyn) Richmond (Staten Island) Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) Geographical characteristics Area Total 468. ...

The son of Abraham Van Wyck and Zeruah Van Wyck, he was prepared for college at the Wilson Academy in North Carolina, and later graduated from Columbia College, and was valedictorian of his class. He then passed a number of years in mercantile life, after which he became an able lawyer and enjoyed a large practice for many years. Later, he was elected Judge of the City Court of New York, becoming thereafter Chief Justice. He resigned to accept the Democratic nomination for Mayor of Greater New York, and was elected by a very large majority. He served as mayor of New York City between 1898 and 1901 and served as the first mayor to govern New York City after its five boroughs had been consolidated into a single city. Official language(s) English Capital Raleigh Largest city Charlotte Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 28th 139,509 km² 805 km 240 km 9. ... Columbia College is the name of several institutions of higher education. ... Dexter Holland Tiffany Amber Thiessen Eric Young Kaleb Fulgham The second highest graduate is referred to as the salutatorian. ... Democracy is a form of government under which the power to alter the laws and structures of government lies, ultimately, with the citizenry. ... For a list of the Dutch Director-Generals who governed New Amsterdam (as New York City was called when it was a Dutch-run settlement) between 1624 and 1664, see: Director-General of New Netherland. ... 1898 (MDCCCXCVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... 1901 (MCMI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Nickname: The Big Apple Motto: Official website: City of New York Location Location in the state of New York Government Counties (Boroughs) Bronx (The Bronx) New York (Manhattan) Queens (Queens) Kings (Brooklyn) Richmond (Staten Island) Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) Geographical characteristics Area Total 468. ... The Five Boroughs of New York City The Five Boroughs is a colloquialism often used by residents of New York City to unambiguously refer to the city itself, as opposed to any particular borough or to the greater metropolitan area. ...

He was a member of the Holland Society, of which he became President. He belonged to many of the social clubs of the city, and was prominent in Masonic circles, being a member of The Ancient Lodge, New York City. For many years he took a most active interest in party matters, attending many conventions, State and national. He subsequently becames intensely fond of travelling, and indulged in that pleasure to a very large extent. American Square & Compasses Freemasonry is a worldwide fraternal organization. ...

As Mayor, he brought together the unnumerable municipal corporations comprising the greater city, adjusting their finances and bringing order out of almost chaos. He also caused to be constructed the first subway railroad in Manhattan, and provided for the construction of the Brooklyn Tunnel. Van Wyck Boulevard, later the Van Wyck Expressway, in New York City is named for Van Wyck. This article describes subways as mass transit lines. ... Manhattan Borough,highlighted in yellow, lies between the East River and the Hudson River. ... Interstate 678 (I-678) is a north-south interstate highway spur route that runs 14 miles (23 km) entirely within two boroughs of New York City: Queens and the Bronx. ...

Van Wyck is generally regarded as a colourless mayor, selected by the sachems of Tammany Hall as a man who would do little to interfere with their running of the city. He was, however, no more averse than many of his colleagues to enriching himself once actually in office. Initially highly popular as a result of his reversal of the various reforms introduced by the preceding Fusion administration, Van Wyck's mayorality foundered on the issue of the so-called 'Ice Trust' scandal on 1900. One of the most serious reverses ever suffered by a Tammany mayor, the scandal followed on the revelation, made by the New York World, that the American Ice Company planned to double the price of ice from 30 to 60 cents per hundred pounds. In the era before refrigeration, this was a potentially deadly decision, since ice was the only preservative available to keep food, milk and medicines fresh, and the new price would put the product out of the reach of many of the city's poor - Tammany's main power base. Tammany Hall was the name given to the Democratic Party political machine that dominated New York City politics from the mayoral victory of Fernando Wood in 1854 through the election of Fiorello LaGuardia in 1934. ...

Public outcry was such that American Ice was forced to reverse its decision, but not before Van Wyck's political rivals had forced an investigation that eventually revealed not only that American Ice had secured an effective monopoly over the supply of its product to the city - it was the only company with rights to land ice at New York piers - but also that Van Wyck, whose salary as mayor was only $15,000, owned, and had apparently not paid for, $680,000 of American Ice stock.

The ice trust scandal destroyed Van Wyck's political career and was generally have reckoned to have cost Tammany the elections of 1901, which went to the Fusion reformist slate led by Seth Low. Seth Low, born in Brooklyn, New York, (January 18, 1850 - September 17, 1916) was a U.S. educator and political figure. ...

References

The bulk of this information is derived from "Descendants of Cornelius Barentse Van Wyck and Anna Polhemus," by Anne Van Wyck. New York, Tobias A. Wright Printer and Publisher, 1912: 207-208.

Oliver Allen (1993). The Tiger: The Rise and Fall of Tammany Hall. New York: Addison Wesley.