Hempstead Washburne


Hempstead Washburne was a Republican attorney and politician who served as mayor of Chicago, Illinois from 1891 to 1893. He was the son of Elihu B. Washburne.

Biography

Hempstead Washburne was born in Galena, Illinois on November 11, 1851, and attended Maine's Kents Hill School. He studied at the University of Bonn in Germany, and graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1874. In 1875, he completed supplemental legal education at Union College of Law.
Washburne practiced law in Chicago. In 1880 he was appointed master in chancery for the Superior Court of Cook County. In 1885 he was elected Chicago city attorney. He was reelected in 1887, but declined to run again in 1889.
In 1891, Washubrne was elected as mayor of Chicago, defeating Democratic incumbent DeWitt Cregier in a four-way race which also included former mayor Carter Harrison Sr. and Washburne's own cousin once-removed Elmer Washburn. Washburne was sworn-in as mayor on April 27, 1891. As mayor, he presided over development of the World's Columbian Exposition. He did not seek reelection 1893, and was succeeded as mayor by Democrat Carter Harrison Sr. on April 17, 1893.
After leaving the mayor's office, Washburne resumed practicing law, and became active in several business ventures. He also stayed active in government by serving on Chicago's civil service commission. He suffered a stroke and died in Chicago on April 13, 1918. He was buried at Graceland Cemetery.

Family

In 1883, Washburne married to Annie M. Clarke, a stage actress and the daughter of a prominent Chicago banker; they were the parents of four children.