John Putnam Chapin

For other people, see John Chapin.

John Putnam Chapin (April 21, 1810 – June 27, 1864) served as the 10th Mayor of Chicago, Illinois (1846–1847) for the Whig Party.

John Putnam Chapin
10th Mayor of Chicago
In office March 3, 1846[1] – March 9, 1847[2]
Preceded by	Augustus Garrett
Succeeded by	James Curtiss
Chicago Alderman from 1st ward[3]
In office 1844–1845 Serving with Asher Rossiter
Preceded by	Cyrenus Beers and Hugh T. Dickey
Succeeded by	Thomas Church and J. Young Scammon
Personal details
Born	(1810-04-21)April 21, 1810 Bradford, Vermont
Died	June 27, 1864(1864-06-27) (aged 54) Chicago, Illinois
Resting place	Graceland Cemetery
Political party	Whig
Residence(s)	Chicago, Illinois
Signature

Chapin left his hometown to enter the mercantile business in Haverhill, New Hampshire before moving to Chicago in 1832.^[4] In Chicago he became a member of the wholesale and retail merchants firm Wadsworth, Dyer & Chapin until it was dissolved in 1843.^[4] Following the dissolution of the firm, Chapin joined the Canal Boat Transportation Company. He was a founding member of the Chicago Board of Trade.

From 1844 to 1845, Chapin served a single term as Chicago alderman from the 1st ward.^[3]

In 1846, Chapin ran for mayor of Chicago as a Whig against Democratic nominee Charles Follansbee and Liberty Party nominee Philo Carpenter, winning the office with just over 55% of the vote.^[5]

Following his term as Mayor, Chapin was elected to the city council in 1859. In 1861, he was nominated by the Union ticket for the office of Commissioner of Public Works. As Chapin was a Republican, he declined the nomination as he felt it was a mischievous move on the part of the Democrats.^[6]

He died in Chicago on June 27, 1864, and was buried at Graceland Cemetery.^[4]

References

1. "Mayor John Putnam Chapin Biography". www.chipublib.org. Chicago Public Library. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
2. "Mayor James Curtiss Inaugural Address, 1847". www.chipublib.org. Chicago Public Library. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
3. "Centennial List of Mayors, City Clerks, City Attorneys, City Treasurers, and Aldermen, elected by the people of the city of Chicago, from the incorporation of the city on March 4, 1837 to March 4, 1937, arranged in alphabetical order, showing the years during which each official held office". Archived from the original on September 4, 2018. Retrieved December 24, 2018.
4. "Death of an Old Citizen". Chicago Tribune. June 28, 1864. p. 4. Retrieved November 14, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
5. Walker, Thomas (November 4, 2008). "Chicago Mayor 1846". Our Campaigns. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
6. Chapin, John Putnam (April 12, 1861). "Important Announcement". Chicago Tribune. p. 1. Retrieved November 14, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.