Harvey Doolittle Colvin
Encyclopedia
Harvey Doolittle Colvin served as mayor of Chicago
, Illinois
(1873–1875) for the People's Party.
Immediately prior to serving as Chicago's mayor, Colvin served as the city's treasurer. He ran against acting mayor Lester L. Bond
and won with 60% of the vote. One month after taking office as mayor, Colvin was met with a mass demonstration at City Hall when more than 12,000 unemployed workers marched for jobs and relief. The crowd dispersed after being promised the city would provide relief when an alderman offered to buy them food throughout the winter if the city would reimburse him.
Colvin's administration repealed a Sunday ban on liquor sales which his predecessor, Joseph Medill
and Bond supported. In 1874, Colvin's administration was rocked by allegations of patronage and a scandal in the city treasurer's office.
When the city council called for elections following the adoption of the Cities and Villages Act of 1872
in 1875, they left the office of mayor off the list of offices for the election. Despite this, Thomas Hoyne
ran for the office and was elected. Colvin, however, refused the vacate the office and retained the title and position of mayor despite Hoyne's inauguration, partly due to the support of the city Comptroller. In 1876, a state judge ordered a special election be held later in the year. Monroe Heath
, the Republican
candidate beat his two rivals, James McGrath (Democrat
) and Mark Kimball (People's Party).
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
(1873–1875) for the People's Party.
Immediately prior to serving as Chicago's mayor, Colvin served as the city's treasurer. He ran against acting mayor Lester L. Bond
Lester L. Bond
Lester Legrant Bond was a member of the Illinois state House of Representatives from 1866–1870 and served as acting Mayor of Chicago, appointed by Joseph Medill in 1873 when Medill left for Europe.Bond was born to Jonas and Elizabeth Bond. and grew up on his father's farm in Ravenna, Ohio...
and won with 60% of the vote. One month after taking office as mayor, Colvin was met with a mass demonstration at City Hall when more than 12,000 unemployed workers marched for jobs and relief. The crowd dispersed after being promised the city would provide relief when an alderman offered to buy them food throughout the winter if the city would reimburse him.
Colvin's administration repealed a Sunday ban on liquor sales which his predecessor, Joseph Medill
Joseph Medill
Joseph Medill was an American newspaper editor and publisher, and politician. He was co-owner and managing editor of the Chicago Tribune, and was Mayor of Chicago.-Biography:...
and Bond supported. In 1874, Colvin's administration was rocked by allegations of patronage and a scandal in the city treasurer's office.
When the city council called for elections following the adoption of the Cities and Villages Act of 1872
Cities and Villages Act of 1872
The Cities and Villages Act of 1872 is a piece of Illinois legislation that governs the operation of unincorporated groups of habitations within the state. The act was an immediate source of political controversy...
in 1875, they left the office of mayor off the list of offices for the election. Despite this, Thomas Hoyne
Thomas Hoyne
Thomas Hoyne was elected Mayor of Chicago in 1876, but his election was later declared null and void by a Circuit Court....
ran for the office and was elected. Colvin, however, refused the vacate the office and retained the title and position of mayor despite Hoyne's inauguration, partly due to the support of the city Comptroller. In 1876, a state judge ordered a special election be held later in the year. Monroe Heath
Monroe Heath
Monroe Heath was a U.S. politician. He served as mayor of Chicago, Illinois for the Republican Party. He is buried in Oak Woods Cemetery....
, the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
candidate beat his two rivals, James McGrath (Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
) and Mark Kimball (People's Party).