Gaynor, William

Gaynor, William (Jay)

(1849–1913) mayor, jurist; born near Oriskany, N.Y. In 1909 he retired from the New York Supreme Court to run for mayor of New York City, a post he held until his death in 1913. Backed at first by Tammany Hall, he soon lost their support when he proved to be a strongly reform-minded mayor, working against private gain and public corruption.