Eugene Schmitz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eugene Schmitz
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| 26th Mayor of San Francisco | |
| In office January 8, 1902 – July 8, 1907 |
|
| Preceded by | James D. Phelan |
| Succeeded by | Charles Boxton |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 22, 1864 San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Died | November 20, 1928 (aged 64) San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Union Labor Party |
| Profession | Musician, Politician |
Eugene Edward Schmitz (born August 22, 1864 – died November 20, 1928) was an American musician and politician. People often called him "Handsome Gene" Schmitz. He served as the 26th mayor of San Francisco from 1902 to 1907. He was in office when the famous 1906 San Francisco earthquake happened.
Contents
Early Life and Music
Eugene Schmitz was born in San Francisco, California. His mother was from Ireland, and his father was from Germany.
Before becoming a politician, Eugene was a talented musician. He played the violin and led the orchestra at the Columbia Theatre in San Francisco. He also became the president of the Musicians' Union, which was a group that supported musicians.
Becoming Mayor
A powerful political leader named Abe Ruef saw Schmitz's popularity and chose him to run for mayor. Schmitz ran with the Union Labor Party. He was elected mayor on November 7, 1901.
Schmitz was very popular with the working-class people of San Francisco. Even though some people didn't agree with his leadership, he was re-elected mayor two more times, in 1903 and 1905. He won by a lot of votes each time.
The Great 1906 Earthquake
Eugene Schmitz was still the mayor when the huge 1906 San Francisco earthquake hit the city on April 18, 1906. After the earthquake, a massive fire broke out, destroying much of San Francisco.
To help manage the disaster, Mayor Schmitz quickly gathered a group of important business leaders and politicians. This group was called the Committee of Fifty. They worked together to help the city during this difficult time.
Later Career and Challenges
After the earthquake, Mayor Schmitz faced some serious challenges. In 1907, he was accused of being involved in some problems related to his time in office. Because of these accusations, he was removed from his position as mayor. He was held in jail while his case was being decided.
Later, in 1908, a higher court looked at his case again and decided to cancel his earlier conviction. He was then released. In 1912, he faced new accusations, but he was found not guilty.
After these events, Eugene Schmitz tried to become mayor again in 1915 and 1919, but he was not successful. However, he was later elected to the Board of Supervisors in 1921, where he served until 1925.
Family Life
Eugene Schmitz married Julia Driscoll on June 10, 1891, in Watsonville, California. They had two daughters together.
Images for kids
-
Eugene E. Schmitz
-
Members of the first Labor Party ticket in San Francisco in 1901. Eugene Schmitz is in the back row.
