High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! John Decker (May 15, 1823 – November 18, 1892) was an American businessman, politician and firefighter. He served as the last Chief Engineer of the old New York City Fire Department, the original colonial-era volunteer firefighters of New York City, from 1860 until 1865. He led the fire department during the New York Draft Riots, for which he gained national attention, and later founded the Volunteer Fireman`s Association.