John Blake Rice
19th Mayor of Chicago
Party:
Republican
Elected:
1st term:
April 18, 1865
Defeated Francis C. Sherman (Democrat)
2nd term:
April 16, 1867
Defeated Francis C. Sherman (Democrat)
Inauguration:
May 3, 1865: Inaugural Address
May 6, 1867: Inaugural Address
Terms of office:
1st term: 1865-1867
2nd term: 1867-1869
Birth:
May 28, 1809
Easton, MD
Personal:
1836 - Singing in his shoemaker’s shop, he was discovered by a passing theater manager, leading to a life as an actor and theater manager
1837 - Married actress Miss Mary Ann Warren in Philadelphia with whom he had 6 children
1872 - Elected to Congress from the first District of Illinois, but did not live to complete his term as congressman
Death:
December 17, 1874
Norfolk, VA
Gravesite:
Rosehill Cemetery, Chicago
Sources:
Andreas, A. T. History of Chicago: From the Earliest Period to the Present Time. Chicago: A.T. Andreas, 1884-86.
Dodge, Andrew R. and Betty K. Koed, editors. Biographical directory of the United States Congress, 1774-2005 : the Continental Congress, September 5, 1774, to October 21, 1788, and the Congress of the United States, from the First through the One Hundred Eighth Congresses, March 4, 1789, to January 3, 2005, inclusive. Washington, D.C.: U.S. G.P.O., 2005.
Grossman, James R., Ann Durkin Keating, and Janice L. Reiff, editors. Encyclopedia of Chicago. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2004.
Chicago Daily Tribune, Dec. 18, 1874, pg. 5.