Whitehead Hicks

Whitehead Hicks (born August 24, 1728 , Long Island , New York City , † October 7, 1780 in Flushing , Queens , New York City) was Mayor of New York City between 1766 and 1776.

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Whitehead Hicks was the son of a judge. He grew up in the British province of New York and also studied law. In 1750 he was admitted to the bar. He was with the Queens administration for several years. In 1766 he was named mayor of New York City to succeed John Cruger . He held this office for ten years until 1776. During this time, Kings College was opened there (1767). One year later, in 1768, the New York Chamber of Commerce was founded . His tenure was overshadowed by the protests of the still-colonists against the British government. This protest movement then led to the American Revolution and the American War of Independence . In 1776, under George Washington , the Americans briefly occupied New York City and the mayor was forced to flee. Soon after, the city was retaken by the British. It remained in British hands until November 1782. Hicks was appointed judge on the Colony's Supreme Court in February 1776. Some sources say he only held the office for a short time while others assume he was a judge until his death on October 7, 1780. Which version is correct must remain open in the absence of clear evidence. His time as mayor ended with his appointment as judge. David Mathews , who like Hicks was a British loyalist, was appointed to succeed him .

Web links

• Hicks at the Historical Society of the New York Courts
• Hicks in American Political History

predecessor	Office	successor
John Cruger Jr.	Mayor of New York City 1766–1776	David Mathews