Francis Cornwall Sherman facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Francis Cornwall Sherman
5th & 23rd Mayor of Chicago
In office May 5, 1862 – May 3, 1865
Preceded by	Julian Sidney Rumsey
Succeeded by	John Blake Rice
In office March 4, 1841 – March 7, 1842
Preceded by	Alexander Loyd
Succeeded by	Benjamin Wright Raymond
Chairman of the Cook County Board of Commissioners
In office 1851–1853
Illinois State Representative
In office 1844–1850
City Treasurer of Chicago
In office 1842–1843
Preceded by	N.H. Bolles
Succeeded by	Walter S. Gurnee
Chicago Alderman from the 2nd Ward
In office 1837–1838 Serving with Peter Bolles
Preceded by	office established
Succeeded by	James Curtiss/ John S.C. Hogan
Chicago Village Trustee
In office 1835–1836
Personal details
Born	(1805-09-18)September 18, 1805 Newtown, Connecticut
Died	November 7, 1870(1870-11-07) (aged 65) Chicago, Illinois
Resting place	Graceland Cemetery
Political party	Democratic
Children	7 (including Francis)
Residences	Chicago, Illinois
Signature

Francis Cornwall Sherman (born September 18, 1805 – died November 7, 1870) was an important figure in the early history of Chicago, Illinois. He served as the Mayor of Chicago three times. He was a member of the Democratic Party.

Early Life and Move to Chicago

Francis Cornwall Sherman was born on September 18, 1805, in Newtown, Connecticut. He later married Electa Towbridge, who was from Danbury, Connecticut.

In April 1834, Sherman moved to Chicago. He started his career there by building a small boardinghouse. He used the money he earned from the boardinghouse to buy a stagecoach. This allowed him to start a stagecoach line. His stagecoaches traveled between Chicago and other towns in Illinois, like Galena, Joliet, and Peoria.

In 1835, he also began working in the business of making bricks and building things.

Public Service in Chicago

Sherman quickly became involved in Chicago's growing community.

Early Roles

• In July 1835, he was chosen as a village trustee. He served in this role for one year.
• In 1837, he opened a large building called the City Hotel. This hotel later became very famous and was renamed the Sherman House.
• Also in 1837, Chicago officially became a city. Sherman was elected as an alderman for the 2nd Ward. An alderman is like a city council member who helps make decisions for the city. He served for one year on the new Chicago Common Council.

First Time as Mayor (1841–1842)

Sherman was elected mayor of Chicago in 1841. He won against Isaac R. Gavin.

He officially became mayor on March 4, 1841. His first term as mayor ended on March 7, 1842. After him, Benjamin Wright Raymond became the next mayor.

Other Important Positions

After his first time as mayor, Sherman continued to serve the public in different ways:

• He was the City Treasurer of Chicago from 1842 to 1843. The city treasurer manages the city's money.
• From 1844 to 1850, Sherman served in the Illinois House of Representatives. This meant he helped make laws for the state of Illinois.
• During this time, he also attended a special meeting in 1847. This meeting was called a constitutional convention. Its purpose was to discuss and create new rules for the state's government.
• In 1850, Sherman stopped his brickmaking business. He wanted to spend more time on public service. He also focused on developing the properties he owned. He made his hotel, the Sherman House, even bigger by adding two more floors.
• From 1851 to 1853, Sherman was the Chairman of the Cook County Board of Commissioners. This board helps manage the county that Chicago is in.

In 1856, Sherman ran for mayor again but did not win. The Sherman House Hotel was rebuilt and reopened in 1861. It became one of Chicago's grandest hotels.

Second Time as Mayor (1862–1865)

Sherman was elected mayor of Chicago for a second time in the 1862 Chicago mayoral election. He won against Charles N. Holden.

He started his second term as mayor on May 5, 1862. During this time, the American Civil War was happening.

As mayor, Sherman helped create a new plan for the city. This plan changed the mayor's term from one year to two years. It also added new areas, like Bridgeport and Hostein, to the city's boundaries.

Sherman was reelected mayor in 1863. This was a very close election. He won partly because new residents from Bridgeport and Holstein, many of whom were Irish-American and German-American, supported him.

He lost his bid for reelection in 1865. This election happened just after the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. The mood in the country shifted, which helped the Republican Party win. Sherman's second time as mayor ended on May 3, 1865.

Later Years

Sherman tried to become mayor for a fourth time in 1867. He ran as the Democratic candidate again but lost to the current mayor, John Blake Rice.

Death and Family

Francis Cornwall Sherman died on November 7, 1870. He was buried at Graceland Cemetery in Chicago.

Cornwall's grave

Sherman and his wife Electa had seven children. Four of their children lived to be adults. One of their sons, Francis Trowbridge Sherman, became a brigadier general in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

Images for kids

• 

  Francis Cornwall Sherman's signature