High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Rudolf Hieronymus Petersen (born 30 December 1878 in Hamburg; died 10 September 1962 in Wentorf bei Hamburg) was a German businessman, politician (CDU) and First Mayor of Hamburg (1945 46). Petersen was the brother of Carl Wilhelm Petersen. In 1911, he founded the business Rudolf Petersen und Co. after several mergers today MPC Capital AG. In Mai 1945 after the WW II, Brigadier General Sir George Armytage Military Governor of Hamburg appointed Petersen mayor of Hamburg. Petersen joined the CDU. In 1946, he was followed by Max Brauer, who was elected as the First Mayor, and Petersen remained member of the Hamburg Parliament.