John Blake Rice

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John B. Rice
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Illinois's 1st district
In office
March 4, 1873 – December 17, 1874
Preceded byCharles B. Farwell
Succeeded byBernard G. Caulfield
24th Mayor of Chicago
In office
May 3, 1865 – December 6, 1869
Preceded byFrancis Cornwall Sherman
Succeeded byRoswell B. Mason
Personal details
Born(1809-05-28)May 28, 1809
Easton, Maryland
DiedDecember 17, 1874(1874-12-17) (aged 65)
Chicago, Illinois
Political partyRepublican
SpouseMary Ann Warren
Residence(s)Chicago, Illinois
Signature

John Blake Rice (May 28, 1809 – December 17, 1874) was an American male actor, theatrical producer and politician. He served as the mayor of Chicago, Illinois (1865–1869) as a member of the Republican Party.

Early life and career

Rice was born in

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he married into a local theatre family.[1] By 1839, he moved his family to Buffalo, New York, where he managed a theatre during the summers. In winter, he managed a theatre in Albany.[1]

Rice arrived in Chicago in 1847 to work as an actor and entertain the politicians at the

Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[2]

Rice returned to Chicago in 1851 and built a new theater, entirely of brick. He hired

James McVicker
to serve as manager, and was active in the theater until 1857.

Mayoralty

In 1865, near the end of the Civil War, Rice ran for mayor of Chicago as a very conservative Republican. Aided by the end of the war and the subsequent assassination of Abraham Lincoln only days before the election, Rice won easily.

Rice was sworn in as mayor on May 3, 1865.[3]

As mayor, Rice was anti-labor, and he vetoed a plan to enforce an

eight-hour work day. This veto led to a spontaneous demonstration on May 1, 1867, by workers which led to the international May Day observance. The City Council eventually overrode his veto.[4]

Rice and the City Council were connected with graft, prostitution and gambling.

Rice was reelected in 1867.

Rice was defeated in his bid for a third term by Roswell B. Mason in 1869. Rice's mayoralty ended on December 6, 1869, when he was succeeded Mason.[5]

Congressional career

Rice's grave at Rosehill Cemetery

Rice was elected to represent

Rosehill Cemetery
.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Caleb (August 2, 1939), "Builders of Chicago", Chicago Daily Tribune, p. 8
  2. ^ Andreas, A.T. (1887), History of Chicago From the Earliest Period to the Present Time., Volume II: A.T. Andreas
  3. ^ "Mayor John Blake Rice Inaugural Address, 1865". www.chipublib.org. Chicago Public Library. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  4. ISBN 0-933893-94-9
  5. ^ "Mayor Roswell B. Mason Inaugural Address, 1869". www.chipublib.org. Chicago Public Library. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  6. ^ "Arrangements for the Funeral Obsequies", Chicago Daily Tribune, p. 16, December 20, 1874
  7. ^ "In Memoriam", Chicago Daily Tribune, p. 5, December 19, 1874
  8. ^ a b c "Rice Theatres I and II". chicagology.com. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  9. ^ "The First District Vacancy", Chicago Daily Tribune, p. 8, December 24, 1874

External links

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Illinois's 1st congressional district
1873–1874 		Succeeded by
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