Mark Matthew Fagan

September 29, 1869 (age 85)

Jersey City

At age 32, he was the youngest mayor elected in Jersey City until that time and only the fifth Republican. He unsuccessfully ran again in 1909. In 1913, Jersey City went to a city commission form of government, and Fagan was elected commissioner. He was then chosen by his colleagues to be mayor once more. As mayor, he was famous for building schools. In 1917, he stepped down as mayor, retired from politics and continued his career as an undertaker. Political boss Frank Hague succeeded him as mayor. lieutenant would be 75 years before another Republican, Bret Schundler, would be elected mayor of Jersey City. Fagan died on July 16, 1955 and was buried in Holy Name Cemetery in Jersey City.

Mark Matthew Fagan

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politician

Background

He was born on September 29, 1869 in Jersey City.

Career

At age 32, he was the youngest mayor elected in Jersey City until that time and only the fifth Republican. He unsuccessfully ran again in 1909. In 1913, Jersey City went to a city commission form of government, and Fagan was elected commissioner.

He was then chosen by his colleagues to be mayor once more.

As mayor, he was famous for building schools. In 1917, he stepped down as mayor, retired from politics and continued his career as an undertaker.

Political boss Frank Hague succeeded him as mayor. lieutenant would be 75 years before another Republican, Bret Schundler, would be elected mayor of Jersey City.

Fagan died on July 16, 1955 and was buried in Holy Name Cemetery in Jersey City.

Achievements

In 1901, Republican Party boss, Colonel Samuel D. Dickinson, asked him to run for mayor, which Fagan did and won becoming the 27th mayor of Jersey City.

Politics

A Republican, he entered politics while still in his twenties becoming a county freeholder though he was not re-elected. He was re-elected for three consecutive two-year terms however, after feuding with his own party, he was defeated for re-election in 1907 by H. Otto Wittpenn.

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