John Patrick Hopkins

John Patrick Hopkins (October 29, 1858 – October 13, 1918) served as mayor of Chicago, Illinois (1893–1895) for the Democratic Party. John Patrick Hopkins was the first of nine Irish American Catholic mayors of Chicago.[2]

For other people with the same name, see John Hopkins.

John Patrick Hopkins
35th[1] Mayor of Chicago
In office
1893–1895
Preceded byGeorge Bell Swift (acting)
Succeeded byGeorge Bell Swift
Personal details
Born(1858-10-29)October 29, 1858
Buffalo, New York, US
DiedOctober 13, 1918(1918-10-13) (aged 59)
Chicago, Illinois, US
Political partyDemocratic
Signature

Hopkins was a close friend and a political ally of Roger Charles Sullivan.[3][4]

Early life

Hopkins was born October 29, 1858, in Buffalo, New York.[2]

Career

Because his brothers and fathers died when Hopkins was still young,[5] he became a provider for his family.[5] His first job at a foundry as a boy.[5] He later worked in Buffalo's grain elevators.[5]

In 1879, he moved to Chicago with his mothers and sisters.[5]

He worked for some times at the Pullman works.[5] From 1883 to 1885 he served as a paymaster for Pullman interests.[5]

In 1888, he founded the Started the Arcade Trading Co. in 1888, which later became the Secord and Hopkins Co.[2]

Hopkins forged a career in Democratic politics.[3]

Mayoralty

Hopkins was elected the 1893 Chicago mayoral special election, which was held after the assassination of mayor Carter Harrison Sr.

At 35 years of age when he took office, Hopkins became the youngest mayor the city had ever had.[4][6][7][5]

His tenure was marred by numerous scandals, criticisms, and shortcomings. This included incidents of political corruption in the city, such as the Ogden Gas Scandal, rampant public gambling that drew the ire of the Chicago Civic Federation, an indecisive response by Hopkins to the Pullman Strike that was assailed by Republican press outlets.[6][4] Additionally, the misappropriation of significant amounts of campaign contributions by Hopkins had upset many in the Chicago Democratic party, including those who belonged to the party's former Harrison faction.[4]

Hopkins did not seek reelection in the 1895 Chicago mayoral election

Post-mayoralty
Hopkins' grave at Calvary Cemetery

Hopkins died of the Spanish flu on October 13, 1918, in Chicago.[2] He is buried in Calvary Cemetery in Evanston, Illinois.[2]

Personal life

Hopkins never married.[2]

References
  1. "Chicago Mayors". Chicago Public Library. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  2. "Mayor John Patrick Hopkins Biography". Chicago Public Library. Retrieved July 8, 2018.
  3. Morton, Richard Allen (June 29, 2016). Roger C. Sullivan and the Making of the Chicago Democratic Machine, 1881-1908. McFarland. ISBN 9781476663777. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  4. Lindberg, Richard C. (2009). The Gambler King of Clark Street: Michael C. McDonald and the Rise of Chicago's Democratic Machine. SIU Press. p. 292. ISBN 978-0-8093-8654-3. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  5. Dana, Charles Anderson. A Centennial history of the city of Chicago – Its men and institutions. Jazzybee Verlag. p. 33. ISBN 978-3-8496-8799-1. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  6. Hogan, John F. (2018). Chicago Shakedown: The Ogden Gas Scandal. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4396-6474-2. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  7. Illinois Political Directory. 1899. p. 265. Retrieved May 18, 2020.


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