XV.
 

, ===,  N glancing over the names of those who, at one time
15 or another, were  prominently connected with the Fire
 

■-■- .-i Departments of this city, I find that a very large ma-
^_j!^Jl^jority of them are or were of the best men of the
metropolis. I propose to give in this chapter a short biography of
some of those brave fellows.

The first chief engineer of the Volunteer Fire Department of
New York was Jacobus Stoutenberg. His successors were William
J. Ellsworth and Thomas Brown. These gentlemen held office
during the last century. From i8ii to 1824, Thomas Franklin held
the ofifice of chief engineer. Mr. Franklin was born about 1762, and
in 1783 joined 12 engine. In 1791 he became foreman, and a few
years afterward was elected president of the Department. In 1799
he was appointed assistant engineer, and in 1811 chief engineer.
Mr. Franklin was very popular with all classes, and was familiarly
known among the fire laddies as " Uncle Tommy." He was elected
register, and in 1824 led the firemen in their parade in honor of
Lafayette's visit to this country. Mr. Franklin died in 1830, and his
death caused universal grief throughout the city.
 

Jamieson Cox suc'ceeded Chief Franklin as chief engineer, and
held office from 1824 to 1828. Mr. Cox was a baker, doing business
in Pike Street, and joined 26 engine in 1813. In 1822 he was
appointed  assistant engineer.    While a member of the   Board of