Thomas Hoyne
Encyclopedia
Thomas Hoyne was elected Mayor of Chicago
in 1876, but his election was later declared null and void by a Circuit Court
.
Hoyne moved to Chicago in 1837, where he turned his back on the mercantile life he had been leading and studied law, being admitted to the bar in 1839. He was elected Chicago city clerk in 1840. In 1853, he was appointed United States District Attorney for Illinois
. Six years later, he became a US Marshal for the northern district of Illinois.
In 1863, Hoyne traveled to New York and then to Boston
to acquire a lens for a telescope for the University of Chicago
. In Boston, he met with Alvan Clark
and purchased an 18½-inch lens and mounting for the Dearborn Observatory
, at the time, the largest refracting telescope ever built. by 1866, he became one of the founding members of the Chicago Astronomical Society and served as the organization's secretary.
Following the Great Chicago Fire
of 1871, Hoyne presided at the meeting that established a free library in Chicago and sat upon its board of directors, eventually writing the first history of the Chicago library system.
In 1875, the city of Chicago adopted the Cities and Villages Act of 1872
, which called for municipal elections to be held in April instead of November. Harvey Doolittle Colvin
, the current mayor, was informed by his attorneys that his term should be considered extended to the new elections. While the charter did not explicitly extend his term, it also failed to include the office of Mayor in a call for special elections to fill the period from November to May.
In November, 1875, there was an election and neither the Republicans
nor the Democrats
nominated anyone for mayor. Running as an Independent, Hoyne received 33,064 of the 40,000 votes cast for mayor and was declared the Mayor of Chicago.
Colvin, however, refused to relinquish the office and he was supported by the city Comptroller. Although Hoyne presided over council meetings and gave an inaugural address, the Circuit Court
declared his election null and void. Colvin continued to serve until the courts called for a special election on July 12, 1876.
Hoyne was killed in a railroad collision on the Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg railroad.
Mayor of Chicago
The Mayor of Chicago is the chief executive of Chicago, Illinois, the third largest city in the United States. He or she is charged with directing city departments and agencies, and with the advice and consent of the Chicago City Council, appoints department and agency leaders.-Appointment...
in 1876, but his election was later declared null and void by a Circuit Court
Circuit court
Circuit court is the name of court systems in several common law jurisdictions.-History:King Henry II instituted the custom of having judges ride around the countryside each year to hear appeals, rather than forcing everyone to bring their appeals to London...
.
Hoyne moved to Chicago in 1837, where he turned his back on the mercantile life he had been leading and studied law, being admitted to the bar in 1839. He was elected Chicago city clerk in 1840. In 1853, he was appointed United States District Attorney for 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,...
. Six years later, he became a US Marshal for the northern district of Illinois.
In 1863, Hoyne traveled to New York and then to Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
to acquire a lens for a telescope for the University of Chicago
Old University of Chicago
The University of Chicago, now known as the Old University of Chicago , was a school founded by Baptists in Chicago in 1857...
. In Boston, he met with Alvan Clark
Alvan Clark
Alvan Clark , born in Ashfield, Massachusetts, the descendant of a Cape Cod whaling family of English ancestry, was an American astronomer and telescope maker. He was a portrait painter and engraver , and at the age of 40 became involved in telescope making...
and purchased an 18½-inch lens and mounting for the Dearborn Observatory
Dearborn Observatory
The Dearborn Observatory is an astronomical observatory located on the Evanston campus of Northwestern University. The observatory was originally constructed in 1888...
, at the time, the largest refracting telescope ever built. by 1866, he became one of the founding members of the Chicago Astronomical Society and served as the organization's secretary.
Following the Great Chicago Fire
Great Chicago Fire
The Great Chicago Fire was a conflagration that burned from Sunday, October 8, to early Tuesday, October 10, 1871, killing hundreds and destroying about in Chicago, Illinois. Though the fire was one of the largest U.S...
of 1871, Hoyne presided at the meeting that established a free library in Chicago and sat upon its board of directors, eventually writing the first history of the Chicago library system.
In 1875, the city of Chicago adopted 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...
, which called for municipal elections to be held in April instead of November. Harvey Doolittle Colvin
Harvey Doolittle Colvin
Harvey Doolittle Colvin served as mayor of Chicago, Illinois for the People's Party....
, the current mayor, was informed by his attorneys that his term should be considered extended to the new elections. While the charter did not explicitly extend his term, it also failed to include the office of Mayor in a call for special elections to fill the period from November to May.
In November, 1875, there was an election and neither the Republicans
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...
nor the Democrats
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...
nominated anyone for mayor. Running as an Independent, Hoyne received 33,064 of the 40,000 votes cast for mayor and was declared the Mayor of Chicago.
Colvin, however, refused to relinquish the office and he was supported by the city Comptroller. Although Hoyne presided over council meetings and gave an inaugural address, the Circuit Court
Circuit court
Circuit court is the name of court systems in several common law jurisdictions.-History:King Henry II instituted the custom of having judges ride around the countryside each year to hear appeals, rather than forcing everyone to bring their appeals to London...
declared his election null and void. Colvin continued to serve until the courts called for a special election on July 12, 1876.
Hoyne was killed in a railroad collision on the Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg railroad.