Encyclopedia ofChicago
Special Features : Chicago Mayors, 1837-2003
Special Features
C
Chicago Mayors, 1837-2003
Next

 

 

 

 Chicago Mayors, 1837-2003
Years in Office Name Birth and Death Birthplace Vote Candidate and Party
1837–1838 William Butler Ogden (June 15, 1805– Aug. 3, 1877) Walton, NY 489 William Butler Ogden (Dem.)
        217 John H. Kinzie (Whig)
1838–1839 Buckner Stith Morris (Aug. 19, 1800– Dec. 16, 1879) Augusta, KY 377 Buckner Stith Morris (Whig)
        318 William Jones (Dem.)
1839–1840 Benjamin Wright Raymond (June 15, 1801– Apr. 6, 1883) Rome, NY 353 Benjamin Wright Raymond (Whig)
        212 James Curtiss (Dem.)
1840–1841 Alexander Loyd (Aug. 19, 1805– May 7, 1872) Orange County, NY 582 Alexander Loyd (Dem.)
        423 Benjamin Raymond (Whig)
1841–1842 Francis Cornwall Sherman (Sept. 18, 1805– Nov. 7, 1870) Newton, CT 460 Francis Cornwall Sherman (Dem.)
        419 Isaac R. Gavin (Whig)
1842–1843 Benjamin Wright Raymond     490 Benjamin Wright Raymond (Whig)
        432 Augustus Garrett (Dem.)
        53 Henry Smith (Liberty)
1843–1844 Augustus Garrett ( 1801– Nov. 30, 1848) New York, NY 671 Augustus Garrett (Dem.)
        381 Thomas Church (Whig)
        45 Henry Smith (Liberty)
1844–1845 Alson Smith Sherman (Apr. 21, 1811– Sep. 22, 1903) Barre, VT 837 Alson Smith Sherman (Ind. Dem.)
        694 Augustus Garrett (Dem.)
        126 Henry Smith (Liberty)
1845–1846 Augustus Garrett     1,072 Augustus Garrett (Dem.)
        913 John H. Kinzie (Whig)
        131 Henry Smith (Liberty)
1846–1847 John P. Chapin (Apr. 21, 1810– June 27, 1864) Rutland, VT 1,104 John P. Chapin (Whig)
        667 Charles Follansbee (Dem.)
        229 Philo Carpenter (Liberty)
1847–1848 James Curtiss (Apr. 7, 1803– Nov. 2, 1859) Weathersford, VT 1,281 James Curtiss (Dem.)
        1,220 Philo Carpenter (Liberty)
        238 John H. Kinzie (Whig)
1848–1849 James H. Woodworth (Dec. 4, 1804– Mar. 26, 1869) Greenwich, NY 1,971 James H. Woodworth (Ind. Dem.)
        1,361 James Curtiss (Dem.)
1849–1850 James H. Woodworth     2,668 James H. Woodworth
        399 Timothy Wait
        245 Lewis C. Kerchival
        22 S. D. Childs
1850–1851 James Curtiss     1,697 James Curtiss
        1,227 Levi D. Boone
        805 Lewis C. Kerchival
1851–1852 Walter S. Gurnee (Mar. 9, 1813– Apr. 18, 1903) Haverstraw, NY 2,032 Walter S. Gurnee
        1,092 Eli B. Williams
        1,001 James Curtiss
        226 Edward K. Rogers
1852–1853 Walter S. Gurnee     1,749 Walter S. Gurnee
        1,294 James Curtiss
        1,142 Amos G. Throop (Temperance)
        269 Peter Page
1853–1854 Charles McNeill Gray (Mar. 7, 1807– Oct. 17, 1885) Chenango County, NY 3,270 Charles McNeill Gray
        971 Josiah L. James
1854–1855 Isaac Lawrence Milliken (Aug. 29, 1815– Dec. 2, 1889) Saco, ME 3,800 Isaac Lawrence Milliken (Dem.)
        2,556 Amos G. Throop (Temperance)
1855–1856 Levi D. Boone (Dec. 8, 1808– Jan. 24, 1882) Lexington, KY 3,186 Levi D. Boone (Know-Nothing)
        2,841 Isaac Lawrence Milliken (Dem.)
1856–1857 Thomas Dyer (Jan. 13, 1805– June 6, 1862) Canton, CT 4,712 Thomas Dyer (Dem. [Pro-Nebraska])
        4,123 Francis Cornwall Sherman
          (Dem. [Anti-Nebraska])
1857–1858 John Wentworth (Mar. 5, 1815– Oct. 16, 1888) Sandwich, NH 5,933 John Wentworth (Rep.-Fusion)
        4,842 Benjamin F. Carver (Dem.)
1858–1859 John C. Haines (May 26, 1818– July 4, 1896) Deerfield, NY 8,642 John C. Haines (Rep.)
        7,481 Daniel Brainard (Dem.)
1859–1860 John C. Haines     8,587 John C. Haines (Rep.)
        7,728 Marcus G. Gilman (Dem.)
1860–1861 John Wentworth     9,998 John Wentworth (Rep.-Fusion)
        8,739 Walter S. Gurnee (Dem.)
1861–1862 Julian S. Rumsey (Apr. 3, 1823– Apr. 20, 1886) Batavia, NY 8,274 Julian S. Rumsey (Rep.)
        6,601 Thomas B. Bryan (Union)
1862–1865 Francis Cornwall Sherman     7,437 Francis Cornwall Sherman (Dem.)
        6,254 Charles Holden (Rep.)
1865–1867 John B. Rice (May 28, 1809– Dec. 17, 1874) Easton, MD 11,078 John B. Rice (Rep.)
        5,600 Francis Cornwall Sherman (Dem.)
1867–1869 John B. Rice     11,904 John B. Rice (Rep.)
        7,971 Francis Cornwall Sherman (Dem.)
1869–1871 Roswell B. Mason (Sept. 19, 1805– Jan. 11, 1892) New Hartford, NY 19,826 Roswell B. Mason (Citizens')
        11,410 George W. Gage (Rep.)
1871–1873 Joseph E. Medill (Apr. 6, 1823– Mar. 16, 1899) Nova Scotia 16,125 Joseph E. Medill (Union-Fireproof)
        5,988 C. C. P. Holden (Dem.)
1873 Lester Legrant Bond (Acting mayor following Medill's resignation) (Oct. 27, 1829– Apr. 15, 1903) Ravenna, OH    
1873–1876 Harvey Doolittle Colvin (Dec. 18, 1815– Apr. 16, 1892) Herkimer County, NY 28,791 Harvey Doolittle Colvin (Dem./People's)
        18,540 Lester Legrant Bond (Union)
1876–1877 Monroe Heath (Mar. 27, 1828– Oct. 21, 1894) Grafton, NH 19,248 Monroe Heath (Rep.)
        7,509 Mark Kimball (Dem.)
        3,363 J. J. McGrath (Ind.)
1877–1879 Monroe Heath     30,881 Monroe Heath (Rep.)
        19,449 Perry H. Smith (Dem.)
1879–1881 Carter Henry Harrison (Feb. 25, 1825– Oct. 28, 1893) Lexington, KY 25,685 Carter Henry Harrison (Dem.)
        20,496 Abner Wright (Rep.)
        11,829 Ernest Schmidt (Socialist Labor)
1881–1883 Carter Henry Harrison     35,668 Carter Henry Harrison (Dem.)
        27,925 John Clark (Rep.)
        764 Timothy O'Mara (Ind.)
        240 George Schilling (Socialist Labor)
1883–1885 Carter Henry Harrison     41,226 Carter Henry Harrison (Dem.)
        30,963 Eugene Cary (Rep.)
1885–1887 Carter Henry Harrison     43,352 Carter Henry Harrison (Dem.)
        42,977 Sidney Smith (Rep.)
        221 William Bush (Prohibition)
1887–1889 John A. Roche (Aug. 12, 1844– Feb. 10, 1904) Utica, NY 51,249 John A. Roche (Rep.)
        23,490 Robert S. Nelson (Labor)
        376 Joseph L. Whitlock (Prohibition)
1889–1891 DeWitt Clinton Cregier (June 1, 1829– Nov. 9, 1898) New York, NY 57,340 Dewitt C. Cregier (Dem.)
        45,328 John A. Roche (Rep.)
        411 Ira J. Mason (Prohibition)
        304 Charles Orchardson (Socialist)
1891–1893 Hempstead Washburne (Nov. 11, 1852– Apr. 13, 1918) Galena, IL 46,957 Hempstead Washburne (Reform)
        46,558 Dewitt C. Cregier (Dem.)
        42,931 Carter Harrison (Ind. Dem.)
        24,027 Elmer Washburn (Citizens)
        2,376 Thomas J. Morgan (Socialist)
1893 Carter Henry Harrison
(Died in office) 		    114,237 Carter Henry Harrison (Dem.)
      93,148 Samuel W. Allerton (Rep.)
        3,033 Dewitt C. Cregier (Union Citizens)
        1,000 Henry Ehrenpreis (Socialist Labor)
1893 George Bell Swift
(Mayor pro tem after Harrison's death until election) 		(Dec. 14, 1845– July 2, 1912) Cincinnati, OH    
1893–1895 John Patrick Hopkins (Oct. 29, 1858– Oct. 13, 1918) Buffalo, NY 112,959 John Patrick Hopkins (Dem.)
        111,660 George Bell Swift (Rep.)
        2,599 Socialist and People's candidates combined
1895–1897 George Bell Swift     143,884 George Bell Swift (Rep.)
        103,125 Frank Wenter (Dem.)
        12,882 Bayard Holmes (People's)
1897–1899 Carter Henry Harrison II (Apr. 23, 1860– Dec. 25, 1953) Chicago, IL 148,880 Carter Henry Harrison, II (Dem.)
        69,730 John M. Harlan (Ind. Rep.)
        59,542 Nathaniel C. Sears (Rep.)
        18,238 six others combined
1899–1901 Carter Henry Harrison II     148,496 Carter Henry Harrison, II (Dem.)
        107,437 Zina R. Carter (Rep.)
        47,169 John P. Altgeld (Municipal Ownership)
        2,565 three others combined
1901–1903 Carter Henry Harrison II     156,756 Carter Henry Harrison, II (Dem.)
        128,413 Elbridge Hanecy (Rep.)
        7,078 four others combined
        5,384 John Collins (Socialist)
1903–1905 Carter Henry Harrison II     146,208 Carter Henry Harrison, II (Dem.)
        138,548 Graeme Stewart (Rep.)
        13,635 three others combined
        11,124 Charles L. Breckon (Socialist)
1905–1907 Edward Fitzsimmons Dunne (Oct. 12, 1853– May 24, 1937) Waterville, CT 163,189 Edward Fitzsimmons Dunne (Dem.)
        138,548 John M. Harlan (Rep.)
        23,034 John Collins (Socialist)
        3,294 Oliver W. Stewart (Prohibition)
1907–1911 Fred A. Busse (Mar. 3, 1866– July 9, 1914) Chicago, IL 164,702 Fred A. Busse (Rep.)
        151,779 Edward Fitzsimmons Dunne (Dem.)
        13,429 George Koop (Socialist)
        6,020 W. A. Brubaker (Prohibition)
1911–1915 Carter Henry Harrison II     177,997 Carter Henry Harrison, II (Dem.)
        160,672 Charles E. Merriam (Rep.)
        24,825 William E. Rodriguez (Socialist)
        3,297 two others combined
1915–1919 William Hale Thompson (May 14, 1867– Mar. 18, 1944) Boston, MA 398,538 William Hale Thompson (Rep.)
        251,061 Robert M. Sweitzer (Dem.)
        24,452 Seymour Stedman (Socialist)
        3,974 John H. Hill (Prohibition)
1919–1923 William Hale Thompson     259,828 William Hale Thompson (Rep.)
        238,206 Robert M. Sweitzer (Dem.)
        110,851 Maclay Hoyne (Ind.)
        55,990 John Fitzpatrick (Labor)
        24,079 John Collins (Socialist)
        1,848 Adolph S. Carm (Socialist Labor)
1923–1927 William Emmett Dever (Mar. 13, 1862– Sept. 3, 1929) Woburn, MA 390,413 William Emmett Dever (Dem.)
        285,094 Arthur C. Leuder (Rep.)
        41,186 William A. Cunnea (Socialist)
1927–1931 William Hale Thompson     515,716 William Hale Thompson (Rep.)
        432,678 William Emmett Dever (Dem.)
        51,347 J. D. Robertson (People's Ownership Smash Crime Rings)
1931–1933 Anton J. Cermak
(Died in office) 		(May 9, 1873– Mar. 6, 1933) Kladno, Bohemia 671,189 Anton J. Cermak (Dem.)
        476,922 William Hale Thompson (Rep.)
1933 Frank J. Corr
(Acting mayor pending election) 		(Jan. 12, 1877– June 3, 1934) Brooklyn, NY    
1933–1935 Edward J. Kelly
(Elected by city council) 		(May 1, 1876– Oct. 20, 1950) Chicago, IL    
1935–1939 Edward J. Kelly     798,150 Edward J. Kelly (Dem.)
        166,571 Emil C. Welten (Rep.)
        87,726 Newton Jenkins (Third Party)
1939–1943 Edward J. Kelly     822,469 Edward J. Kelly (Dem.)
        638,068 Dwight H. Green (Rep.)
        4,921 Arthur P. Reilly (Third Party)
1943–1947 Edward J. Kelly     685,567 Edward J. Kelly (Dem.)
        571,547 George B. McKibbin (Rep.)
1947–1951 Martin H. Kennelly (Aug. 11, 1887– Nov. 29, 1961) Chicago, IL 919,593 Martin H. Kennelly (Dem.)
        646,239 Russell W. Root (Rep.)
1951–1955 Martin H. Kennelly     697,871 Martin H. Kennelly (Dem.)
        545,326 Robert L. Hunter (Rep.)
1955–1959 Richard J. Daley (May 15, 1902– Dec. 20, 1976) Chicago, IL 708,660 Richard J. Daley (Dem.)
        581,461 Robert E. Merriam (Rep.)
1959–1963 Richard J. Daley     778,612 Richard J. Daley (Dem.)
        311,940 Timothy Sheehan (Rep.)
1963–1967 Richard J. Daley     679,497 Richard J. Daley (Dem.)
        540,705 Benjamin Adamowski (Rep.)
1967–1971 Richard J. Daley     792,238 Richard J. Daley (Dem.)
        272,542 John Waner (Rep.)
1971–1975 Richard J. Daley     740,137 Richard J. Daley (Dem.)
        315,969 Richard Friedman (Rep.)
1975–1976 Richard J. Daley
(Died in office) 		    542,817 Richard J. Daley (Dem.)
        139,335 John Hoellen (Rep.)
        16,693 Willie Mae Reid (Socialist Workers)
1977–1979 Michael A. Bilandic
(Acting mayor, then won special election) 		(Feb. 13, 1923–) Chicago, IL 490,688 Michael A. Bilandic (Dem.)
        5,546 Dennis Brasky (Socialist Workers)
        2,497 Gerald Rose (U.S. Labor)
1979–1983 Jane M. Byrne (May 24, 1934–) Chicago, IL 700,874 Jane M. Byrne (Dem.)
        137,664 Wallace Johnson (Rep.)
        15,625 Andrew Pulley (Socialist Workers)
1983–1987 Harold Washington (Apr. 15, 1922– Nov. 25, 1987) Chicago, IL 668,176 Harold L. Washington (Dem.)
        619,926 Bernard E. Epton (Rep.)
        3,756 Ed Warren (Socialist Workers)
1987 Harold Washington
(Died in office) 		    600,290 Harold L. Washington (Dem.)
        468,493 Edward R. Vroldyak (IL Solidarity)
        47,652 Donald H. Haider (Rep.)