Alson Sherman, American merchant and politician, 8th Mayor of Chicago (d. 1903)
Alson Sherman (April 21, 1811 – September 27, 1903) served as Mayor of Chicago, Illinois (1844–1845) as an Independent Democrat.
Sherman was born to Nathanial Sherman and Deborah (Webster) on April 21, 1811, in Barre, Vermont.Sherman established the first sawmill in Chicago and served as the city's first iceman.In the three years before he was elected mayor, Sherman served as chief of Chicago's fire department.In 1844, Sherman ran for mayor of Chicago after an initial election was invalidated based on charges of "illegal proceedings and fraud." He ran as an Independent Democratic nominee against incumbent Democrat Augustus Garrett and Liberty Party nominee Henry Smith, winning the office with just over 50% of the vote.As mayor, he oversaw the city's purchase of its first piece of fire-fighting equipment and appointed Denis Swenie as fire chief.
In 1849 he won a special election to replace E.H. Chapin, who had resigned from the Chicago City Council, as an alderman for the city's third ward. He won a full term in 1850.In 1850, he became one of the original trustees of Northwestern University.He moved to Waukegan, Illinois, in 1856. In the 1870s, when a canal being dug in Lemont, Illinois, revealed Athens marble, Sherman was instrumental in developing the marble quarry there. He died in 1903 and was buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Waukegan, Illinois.
1811Apr, 21
Alson Sherman
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Events on 1811
- 5Mar
Battle of Barrosa
Peninsular War: A French force under the command of Marshal Victor is routed while trying to prevent an Anglo-Spanish-Portuguese army from lifting the Siege of Cádiz in the Battle of Barrosa. - 5May
Battle of Fuentes de Oñoro
In the second day of fighting at the Peninsular War Battle of Fuentes de Oñoro the French army, under Marshall André Masséna, drive in the Duke of Wellington's overextended right flank, but French frontal assaults fail to take the town of Fuentes de Oñoro and the Anglo-Portuguese army holds the field at the end of the day. - 16May
Battle of Albuera
Peninsular War: The allies Spain, Portugal and United Kingdom, defeat the French at the Battle of Albuera. - 7Nov
Battle of Tippecanoe
Tecumseh's War: The Battle of Tippecanoe is fought near present-day Battle Ground, Indiana, United States. - 28Nov
Piano Concerto No. 5 (Beethoven)
Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 73, premieres at the Gewandhaus in Leipzig.