Charles Donald Jacob | |
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| 21st, 23rd & 25thMayor of Louisville | |
| In office 1888–1890 | |
| Preceded by | P. Booker Reed |
| Succeeded by | William L. Lyons |
| In office 1882–1884 | |
| Preceded by | John George Baxter |
| Succeeded by | P. Booker Reed |
| In office 1873–1878 | |
| Preceded by | John George Baxter |
| Succeeded by | John George Baxter |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1838-06-01)June 1, 1838 |
| Died | December 25, 1898(1898-12-25) (aged 60) Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Resting place | Cave Hill Cemetery Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouses | |
| Relations | Richard Taylor Jacob (brother) Richard Taylor (great-grandfather) |
| Children | 3 |
| Parent |
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Charles Donald Jacob (June 1, 1838 – December 25, 1898)[1] was an American politician who served four terms asmayor ofLouisville, Kentucky, two consecutively in 1873–78, then later in 1882–84 and 1888–90. He also served as the U.S. minister toColombia in 1885–1886. He was a member of theDemocratic Party.
In Mayor Jacob's third term, he oversaw the opening of theSouthern Exposition. Perhaps Jacob's most lasting contribution was his fourth-term establishment in 1889 of a large park in Louisville, today calledIroquois Park, which was landscaped byFrederick Law Olmsted.
Charles Donald Jacob was born on June 1, 1838, inLouisville, Kentucky to John J. and Lucy Donald (née Robertson) Jacob.[2] His mother was the granddaughter of CommodoreRichard Taylor ofAmerican Revolutionary War fame.[2] His father wasJohn J. Jacob, the financier and philanthropist who was Louisville's first millionaire. His older brother wasRichard Taylor Jacob, who becameKentuckyLieutenant Governor, and his brother-in-law wasJames Brown Clay, who was elected as a U.S. Representative.
In 1870, Jacob was urged to run for City Council and he was elected. In 1872, Jacob ran for mayor againstJohn G. Baxter. He was elected and served two terms, from 1873 to 1878.[3] Baxter again became mayor, and Jacob ran again in 1881 and won. He served as mayor for one more term from 1882 to 1884.[3] He was urged again to run for mayor in 1888. He ran as an independent challenger against Democratic nominee Judge W. B. Hoke and Republican nominee Samuel Avery and won by a large majority (almost 4,000 votes). In this term, he established the Park Commission and managed the purchase of a plot of land called "Burnt Knob". From that land, he built what was calledJacob Park (later Iroquois Park) and a bridge that was nicknamed "Jacob's Folly" in Louisville.[3] In 1893, Jacob ran againstHenry S. Tyler for mayor after Tyler's first term, but he was defeated.[3] In 1896, Jacob was offered the Democratic ticket if he ran in support of thefree silver cause. He declined, and ran again as an independent, but lost to Republican candidateGeorge Davidson Todd.[3]
Jacob was appointed U.S. minister toColombia by PresidentGrover Cleveland and served in that role for two years, until he resigned.[2] In 1886, Jacob was elected president of the Mutual Life Insurance Company of Kentucky, a position he held until his death.[2] He was also president of the Central Savings Bank for a time.[2]
Jacob married Addie Martin, the daughter of local Louisville commission merchant Thomas J. Martin, on January 12, 1869. They had three children: Jennie, Lucy and Charles D. Jacob Jr. Charles D. Jacob Jr. was killed in theBattle of San Juan Hill on July 1, 1898. His wife died on March 4, 1878.[2] Jacob married Edith Bullitt on June 2, 1897.[3]
Jacob died on December 25, 1898, in Louisville. He was interred inCave Hill Cemetery in Louisville.[2]
TheJacobs neighborhood in Louisville is named for him.
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Mayor of Louisville, Kentucky 1873–1878 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Mayor of Louisville, Kentucky 1882–1884 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Mayor of Louisville, Kentucky 1888–1890 | Succeeded by |
| Diplomatic posts | ||
| Preceded by | United States Minister to Colombia 26 January 1886 – 29 May 1886 | Succeeded by |
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| Minister Resident | ||
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