Franz Floerke

Friedrich Franz Leopold Floerke (6 November 1811 – 13 August 1889) was a German jurist and politician who served as the mayor of Grabow from 1839 to 1888, almost 50 years, which made him the longest-serving mayor of the town.

Biography Franz Floerke was born in Ludwigslust on 6 November 1811 as the son of the theologian and superintendent Albrecht Floerke (1777–1848) and his wife Katharina Henriette Margarethe Marquart (1789 -1840). In 1812 his family moved to Hagenow and in 1824 to Parchim, where he lived until leaving for university He attended the Friedrich-Franz-Gymnasium in Parchim where he met Fritz Reuter, who would later call Floerke a school friend, as well as completing his Abitur on 29 September 1831.

On 1 July 1839, at the age of 28, Floerke was elected as the mayor of Grabow with an absolute majority in the city council. Arguably the biggest achievement of his tenure was his advocacy for the construction of the Berlin–Hamburg railway through Grabow and the town's inclusion as a stop on the line. His endeavour successful, the first train arrived at the Grabow station from Berlin by noon on 15 October 1846 under applause of the residents. Floerke also greatly contributed to the expansion of other infrastructure, such as bridges and roads, as well as the settlement of industry in the town. He retired on 1 January 1889 after serving a tenure of 50 years as the mayor of Grabow. Soon after, he became sick and eventually died on 13 August 1889. He was buried in the old Grabow cemetery. His grave no longer exists.

Personal life Floerke was married and had at least eight children, thereof six sons. A road in Grabow, the Floerkestraße, is named after him.