Livingston Mims

Who was Livingston Mims?

Livingston Mims was an American politician who served as the 37th Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia during the early 20th century.

Born in Edgefield, South Carolina, he later moved to Mississippi and represented Hinds County in the state legislature from 1859 to 1861. He was the only child of Henry Mims and Susan Burr Read of Edgefield, South Carolina.

During the United States Civil War, Major Mims served under General John C. Pemberton and saw action in the Battle of Jackson, Champion Hill and Vicksburg Campaign. He served on the staffs of John C. Pemberton and Joseph E. Johnston and shared friendship with Johnson along with continued business interests until Johnson's death in 1891.

After the war, he became southern manager of the New York Life Insurance Company and he was charter member and served 20 years as president of the Capital City Club. Following his death in 1906, he was buried in Westview Cemetery. In observance of his death, Atlanta's City Hall was closed for one half day, and free carriage rides were offered from City Hall to the Westview Cemetery.

Politically he was an old school Democrat and he was elected mayor of Atlanta in October 1900.