Harvey Doolittle Colvin | |
|---|---|
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| 27th Mayor of Chicago | |
| In office December 1, 1873 – July 24, 1876 | |
| Preceded by | Joseph Medill, (Lester L. Bond) |
| Succeeded by | (Thomas Hoyne),Monroe Heath |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1815-12-18)December 18, 1815 |
| Died | April 16, 1892(1892-04-16) (aged 76) |
| Resting place | Rosehill Cemetery |
| Political party | People's Party |
| Residence(s) | Chicago,Illinois |
| Signature | .png) |
Harvey Doolittle Colvin (December 18, 1815 – April 16, 1892) was an American politician. Colvin is best remembered for his stint as mayor ofChicago,Illinois from 1873 to 1875 as a member of thePeople's Party, a pro-liquor factional offshoot of theRepublican Party centered in that city.
Harvey Doolittle Colvin was born December 18, 1815, inHerkimer County,New York.
Immediately prior to serving as Chicago's mayor, Colvin served as the city's treasurer. In the1873 Chicago mayoral election, he ran against acting mayorLester L. Bond and won with 60% of the vote. Colvin was sworn as mayor on December 1, 1873.[1] His campaign was supported by political bossMichael Cassius McDonald.[2] One month after taking office as mayor, Colvin was met with a mass demonstration at City Hall when more than 12,000 unemployed workers marched for jobs and relief. The crowd dispersed after being promised the city would provide relief when an alderman offered to buy them food throughout the winter if the city would reimburse him.
Colvin's administration repealed a Sunday ban on liquor sales which his predecessor,Joseph Medill and Bond supported. In 1874, Colvin's administration was rocked by allegations of patronage and a scandal in the city treasurer's office.[citation needed] TheChicago Fire of 1874 destroyed 812 buildings and was so destructive that the Chicago Board of Underwriters refused to issue insurance policies unless Chicago reformed its fire department. A settlement was reached in which the city would require more construction using brick or stone, increase the size of the water mains, and move the lumberyards outside the city.[3]
David Allen Gage, theCity Treasurer of Chicago, was $507,704 short in the city's accounts. He was indicted, but was acquitted. WhenMonroe Heath assumed the mayoralty after Colvin he discovered that the city had $5.5 million in uncollected taxes.[4]
When the city council called for elections following the adoption of theCities and Villages Act of 1872 in 1875, they left the office of mayor off the list of offices for the election. Despite this,Thomas Hoyne ran for the officeand was elected. Colvin, however, refused to vacate the office and retained the title and position of mayor despite Hoyne's inauguration, partly due to the support of the city comptroller.
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In 1876, a state judge ordereda special election be held later in the year.Monroe Heath, theRepublican candidate beat his two rivals,James J. McGrath of theDemocratic Party, and Mark Kimball of Colvin's now discredited People's Party. Heath was sworn in as Colvin's successor on July 24, 1876.[5]
Colvin died inJacksonville, Florida on April 16, 1892.[6] His body was buried inRosehill Cemetery in Chicago.
