John H. Harmon
Encyclopedia
John H. Harmon was a member of the Democratic National Committee
, the mayor of Detroit, and the publisher of the Detroit Free Press
.
on June 21, 1819. His father, John Harmon, was a printer and published a newspaper in Ravenna, Ohio
. The younger Harmon joined his father and learned the printer's trade. In 1838, the younger Harmon travelled to Detroit as the aide-de-camp
of "General" Lucius V. Bierce, a leader of the Hunter Patriots, a group dedicated to ridding North America of the British Empire
. In December 1838, Harmon took part in the Battle of Windsor, personally burning the British barracks and the steamer Thames.
After the Battle of Windsor, Harmon stayed in Detroit, obtaining a job at the Detroit Free Press
. He became an editor and one-third owner of the paper in 1841, and in 1853 sole owner of the paper. Harmon sold the Free Press the next year.
In 1841, Harmon married Sarah S. Rood. The couple had three children: John Harmon, Emma Harmon, and Mrs. S. H. Bell.
, serving as an alderman of the city of Detroit in 1847 and two years as mayor, in 1852 and 1853, as well as representing Michigan
on the 1848 Democratic National Committee
. He was also a member of the state militia, being appointed a Colonel in 1850. Following his stint as mayor, he was appointed by President Franklin Pierce
as Collector for the Port of Detroit, where he served until 1857. After he left the office of Collector, Harmon spent much of his time in Washington, DC, during congressional sessions.
During this time Harmon, as one biographer put it, "became a victim to the bad habits created by the customs of hospitality then existing in Detroit." Through generosity to his friends, his fortune declined, and Harmon spent some time again working for the Free Press. However, he later "conquered [his] habit" and became a total abstainer, a "silent but eloquent example of a permanently refomed man." John H. Harmon died August 6, 1888 in a hotel in Detroit.
Democratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
, the mayor of Detroit, and the publisher of the Detroit Free Press
Detroit Free Press
The Detroit Free Press is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, USA. The Sunday edition is entitled the Sunday Free Press. It is sometimes informally referred to as the "Freep"...
.
Early life
John H. Harmon was born in Portage County, OhioPortage County, Ohio
Portage County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 152,061 at the 2000 Census and 161,419 at the 2010 Census. Its county seat is Ravenna. Portage County is named for the portage between the Cuyahoga and Tuscarawas Rivers...
on June 21, 1819. His father, John Harmon, was a printer and published a newspaper in Ravenna, Ohio
Ravenna, Ohio
* Chris Bangle; automobile designer* Bill Bower, last surviving pilot of the Doolittle Raid* David D. Busch; best-selling author* William Rufus Day; U.S. Supreme Court justice* Calvin Hampton; Classical organist* Robert B...
. The younger Harmon joined his father and learned the printer's trade. In 1838, the younger Harmon travelled to Detroit as the aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
of "General" Lucius V. Bierce, a leader of the Hunter Patriots, a group dedicated to ridding North America of the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
. In December 1838, Harmon took part in the Battle of Windsor, personally burning the British barracks and the steamer Thames.
After the Battle of Windsor, Harmon stayed in Detroit, obtaining a job at the Detroit Free Press
Detroit Free Press
The Detroit Free Press is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, USA. The Sunday edition is entitled the Sunday Free Press. It is sometimes informally referred to as the "Freep"...
. He became an editor and one-third owner of the paper in 1841, and in 1853 sole owner of the paper. Harmon sold the Free Press the next year.
In 1841, Harmon married Sarah S. Rood. The couple had three children: John Harmon, Emma Harmon, and Mrs. S. H. Bell.
Politics
Harmon was a prominent DemocratDemocratic 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...
, serving as an alderman of the city of Detroit in 1847 and two years as mayor, in 1852 and 1853, as well as representing Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
on the 1848 Democratic National Committee
1848 Democratic National Committee
1848 Democratic National Committee was the Democratic Party's first continuing national organization with one member from each state appointed for four years at the 1848 nominating convention in Baltimore....
. He was also a member of the state militia, being appointed a Colonel in 1850. Following his stint as mayor, he was appointed by President Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce was the 14th President of the United States and is the only President from New Hampshire. Pierce was a Democrat and a "doughface" who served in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate. Pierce took part in the Mexican-American War and became a brigadier general in the Army...
as Collector for the Port of Detroit, where he served until 1857. After he left the office of Collector, Harmon spent much of his time in Washington, DC, during congressional sessions.
During this time Harmon, as one biographer put it, "became a victim to the bad habits created by the customs of hospitality then existing in Detroit." Through generosity to his friends, his fortune declined, and Harmon spent some time again working for the Free Press. However, he later "conquered [his] habit" and became a total abstainer, a "silent but eloquent example of a permanently refomed man." John H. Harmon died August 6, 1888 in a hotel in Detroit.