John Boyd Thacher | |
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| Mayor ofAlbany, New York | |
| In office January 1, 1896 – December 31, 1897 | |
| Preceded by | Oren Elbridge Wilson |
| Succeeded by | Thomas J. Van Alstyne |
| In office January 1, 1886 – December 31, 1888 | |
| Preceded by | A. Bleecker Banks |
| Succeeded by | Edward A. Maher |
| Member of theNew York State Senate from the 17th District | |
| In office January 1, 1884 – December 31, 1885 | |
| Preceded by | Abraham Lansing |
| Succeeded by | Amasa J. Parker Jr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1847-09-11)September 11, 1847 Ballston, New York, U.S. |
| Died | February 25, 1909(1909-02-25) (aged 61) Albany, New York, U.S. |
| Resting place | Albany Rural Cemetery |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Emma Treadwell |
| Relatives | John Boyd Thacher II (nephew) Ebby Thacher (nephew) |
| Education | Williams College |
| Occupation | Businessman Author |
John Boyd Thacher (September 11, 1847 – February 25, 1909) was a businessman and politician fromAlbany, New York. The son of a formermayor of Albany, Thacher served in theNew York State Senate from 1884 to 1885 and was mayor of Albany from 1886 to 1888 and again from 1896 to 1897.
A native ofBallston, New York, Thacher was raised in Albany and educated primarily by private tutors. He then attendedWilliams College, from which he graduatedcum laude in 1869 with aBachelor of Arts degree. Williams later awarded Thacher hisMaster of Arts as in course. After graduation, Thacher joined his father's business manufacturing railroad car wheels. A Democrat in politics, Thacher served in the state senate from 1884 to 1885. He was Albany's mayor from 1886 to 1888 and 1896 to 1897. A supporter ofhard money during the 1890s debate over U.S. monetary policy, in 1896, he won the Democratic nomination forgovernor of New York.William Jennings Bryan, a supporter offree silver, won the party's presidential nomination, and most statewide Democratic nominees that year were supporters of free silver, so Thacher declined to run.
Thacher was a historian and authored several books and articles on topics related to U.S. history. As a collector of historical memorabilia, he acquired numerous autographs of prominent figures, including every signer of theUnited States Declaration of Independence. A philanthropist, among his gifts was a large tract of land in ruralAlbany County, which was later added to the state's parklands asJohn Boyd Thacher State Park.
In 1872, Thacher married Emma Treadwell, the great-granddaughter of Connecticut governorJohn Treadwell. Among his family members were nephewsJohn Boyd Thacher II, who served as mayor of Albany, andEbby Thacher, who played an important role inBill Wilson's creation ofAlcoholics Anonymous. Thacher died in Albany, and was buried atAlbany Rural Cemetery.
John Boyd Thacher was born inBallston, New York on September 11, 1847, the son of George Hornell Thacher and Ursula Jane (Boyd) Thacher.[1] The Thachers were descended fromThomas Thacher, the first minister ofBoston'sOld South Church.[2] George Thacher operated a foundry and operated a successful business manufacturing wheels and undercarriages for railroad cars, and was the primary supplier to theNew York Central Railroad.[3] In addition, he served as Albany's mayor from 1860 to 1862, 1866 to 1868, and 1870 to 1874.[3]
John Thacher was educated primarily by private tutors before enrolling atWilliams College.[3] He graduatedcum laude with aBachelor of Arts degree in 1869.[3] He then completed a course of practical instruction at Folsome’s Business College (laterAlbany Business College), then joined his father's business.[4] Thacher was a member of theKappa Alpha Society, and Williams later awarded him hisMaster of Arts degree "as in course."[5] After the death of their father in 1887, Thacher and his brother George Hornell Thacher (1851–1929) succeeded to ownership of the business.[3]
Thacher was aFreemason, and attained the 33rd degree of theScottish Rite.[6] As part of his work as a historian, Thacher amassed a library of Masonic literature, which he donated to Albany's Masters Lodge No. 5.[6]
In 1872, Thacher married Emma Treadwell (1850–1927).[3] They were married until his death and had no children.[7] Thacher's family also included nephewsJohn Boyd Thacher II andEbby Thacher, the sons of his brother George.[8]
Thacher was active in politics as aDemocrat and served as a member of Albany's board of health.[3] In 1883, he was elected to theNew York State Senate, and he served from January 1884 to December 1885.[3] In the senate, he secured funding for completing construction of theNew York State Capitol, which had begun in 1867, and was completed in 1899.[3] He also secured social reforms including regulations fortenements, and an 1885 statewide census that enabled reapportionment of state legislative districts.[3]
Upon becoming president in 1869,Ulysses S. Grant retired from the army. During Grant'sfinal illness in 1884 he was in financial distress, and Thacher introduced a legislative resolution calling on New York's congressional delegation to enact a law restoring Grant to the army's retired list so he would qualify for a pension.[3] The resolution passed, and Thacher traveled to Washington, D.C. to personally lobby members of Congress, who passed the law in early 1885.[3]
Thacher served as Albany's mayor from 1886 to 1888 and again from 1896 to 1898.[3] During his first term, Thacher presided over extensive ceremonies to celebrate the bicentennial of Albany's 1686 chartering as a city.[9] In February 1888, he organized and presided over a three day long winter carnival, the first celebration of its type south ofMontreal.[9] During his second term, Thacher oversaw the start of several construction projects, most notablyUnion Station at the corner of Broadway and Steuben Street.[9]
When the kidnapping of a five-year-old boy took place in August 1897, while the city's police chief was on vacation, Thacher acted as chief for several days as the crime was investigated and searchers attempted to locate the victim.[6] The kidnapped boy was recovered by searchers several days later, and the three kidnappers were each sentenced to fourteen years in prison.[6]
In 1890, Thacher was appointed a commissioner from New York for the 1893World's Columbian Exposition, and he served until 1895.[6] During this service, he was appointed chairman of the exposition's executive committee on awards.[6] Thacher served without pay, and at the close of the exposition, New York's governor and the presidential administration ofBenjamin Harrison requested him to submit a request for reimbursement of his expenses, which he declined to do.[6]
Thacher supportedhard money and the gold standard during the 1890s debate over U.S. monetary policy.[10] In 1896, he was chosen by the state Democratic convention as the party's nominee forgovernor of New York.[11]Free silver supporterWilliam Jennings Bryan won the party's presidential nomination, and most statewide Democratic nominees that year were supporters of free silver, so Thacher declined to run.[11]
Thacher was a historian who specialized in the early history of the Americas and the United States. His historical works included:[12]
Thacher died in Albany on February 25, 1909.[13] He was buried atAlbany Rural Cemetery.[13]
Thacher was a collector of historical memorabilia. Among his collections were:[13]
After Thacher's death, his wife donated most of his collections to theSmithsonian Institution.[13]
Thacher purchased a large plot of land in centralAlbany County, New York which his widow donated to the state in 1914, and is now known asJohn Boyd Thacher State Park.[14]
| New York State Senate | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | New York State Senate 17th District 1884–1885 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Mayor of Albany, New York 1896–1897 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Mayor of Albany, New York 1886–1888 | Succeeded by |
