Benjamin Flanders

Biography

Benjamin Flanders, born in 1816, came to New Orleans with a steadfast belief in good government and became a voice for education and civil order in the city's newspapers and Reconstruction offices.

Appointed provisional mayor, he reopened schools, restored municipal services, and worked with citizens of all backgrounds to rebuild trust in city governance; he remained a respected adviser long after he retired, and now rests with so many of the city's founders at Metairie Cemetery.