R. B. Gautier


Redmond Bunn 'R.B.' Gautier Sr. was an attorney, judge and the City of Miami's 15th Mayor.
Gautier was born in Putnam County, Florida. When he was a boy his family moved to Miami. His grandfather, Thomas Nicholas Gautier Sr, was signer on the city's filing for incorporation. The Gautiers are considered Miami pioneers.
Around the time of WWI, the Gautier family lived in Miami Beach. Gautier was a city attorney for Miami from 1905-1911.
R.B. Gautier later became a county judge from 1911-1915, and later successfully ran for Mayor of Miami. He was seated next to Franklin D. Roosevelt at Bayfront Park in Miami in February 1933 when Giuseppe Zangara attempted to assassinate Roosevelt. Gautier and Roosevelt survived unscathed but Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak was mortally wounded and five other bystanders sustained injuries.
Gautier would run for governor in 1936 but lost in the Democratic primaries. During the Democratic primaries, he would receive 1,607 votes.
Gautier died in Miami in 1944. His son R.B. Gautier Jr. was elected to the Florida House of Representatives.

Civic affiliations

Gautier was a member of the Elks.