John Bucklin
Encyclopedia
John Carpenter Bucklin was the first mayor of the city of Louisville. His father, a merchant and sailor, was a captain in the Navy during the Revolutionary War
. John Bucklin served in the Rhode Island militia, owned several ships, and married Sarah Smith in 1803. The family moved to Louisville in 1819 or 1820, and in 1823 Bucklin became secretary of the second Life Insurance
company in the state.
He became Louisville's first mayor on March 3, 1828, a month after the state legislature passed Louisville's city charter. Per the terms of the charter, an election was held and the top two candidates were presented to the governor, who chose one to serve a 1-year term. Bucklin defeated William T. Tompkins by just 20 votes, about 650 were cast in total. He would serve six 1-year terms. The powers of the mayor were somewhat limited in the early charter, not even giving the mayor a vote on the more powerful City Council (except to break deadlocks).
During his tenure, he successfully argued for the establishment of the first public school in the city (and state). He also dealt with a devastating flood of the city in February 1832, and pushed for the draining of many of Louisville's early ponds.
He was a Unitarian
, and served as mayor
from 1828 to 1834. His pastor called him: "so complete a skeptic that he will believe nothing he has not seen or touched. He. . . thinks the sciences of chemistry, geology, anatomy, geology, etc., are all humbug
."
He is buried in Cave Hill Cemetery.
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. John Bucklin served in the Rhode Island militia, owned several ships, and married Sarah Smith in 1803. The family moved to Louisville in 1819 or 1820, and in 1823 Bucklin became secretary of the second Life Insurance
Life insurance
Life insurance is a contract between an insurance policy holder and an insurer, where the insurer promises to pay a designated beneficiary a sum of money upon the death of the insured person. Depending on the contract, other events such as terminal illness or critical illness may also trigger...
company in the state.
He became Louisville's first mayor on March 3, 1828, a month after the state legislature passed Louisville's city charter. Per the terms of the charter, an election was held and the top two candidates were presented to the governor, who chose one to serve a 1-year term. Bucklin defeated William T. Tompkins by just 20 votes, about 650 were cast in total. He would serve six 1-year terms. The powers of the mayor were somewhat limited in the early charter, not even giving the mayor a vote on the more powerful City Council (except to break deadlocks).
During his tenure, he successfully argued for the establishment of the first public school in the city (and state). He also dealt with a devastating flood of the city in February 1832, and pushed for the draining of many of Louisville's early ponds.
He was a Unitarian
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
, and served as mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
from 1828 to 1834. His pastor called him: "so complete a skeptic that he will believe nothing he has not seen or touched. He. . . thinks the sciences of chemistry, geology, anatomy, geology, etc., are all humbug
Humbug
Humbug is an old term meaning hoax or jest. While the term was first described in 1751 as student slang, its etymology is unknown. Its present meaning as an exclamation is closer to 'nonsense' or 'gibberish', while as a noun, a humbug refers to a fraud or impostor, implying an element of...
."
He is buried in Cave Hill Cemetery.