Hempstead Washburne

Hempstead Washburne (November 11, 1851 – April 13, 1918) was an American attorney and Republican politician from Illinois. He served as the 32nd mayor of Chicago, from 1891 to 1893. He was a member of the Washburn family of Maine, and was the son of United States Secretary of State Elihu B. Washburne.

Early life and career Hempstead Washburne was born in Galena, Illinois on November 11, 1851, and attended Maine's Kents Hill School. He studied at the University of Bonn in Germany, and graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1874. In 1875, he completed supplemental legal education at Union College of Law (now Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law).

Washburne practiced law in Chicago. In 1880 he was appointed master in chancery for the Superior Court of Cook County. In 1885 he was elected Chicago city attorney. He was reelected in 1887, but declined to run again in 1889.

Mayoralty In 1891, Washburne was elected as mayor of Chicago, defeating Democratic incumbent DeWitt Cregier in a four-way race which also included former mayor Carter Harrison Sr. (running as an independent Democrat) and Washburne's own cousin once-removed Elmer Washburn. Washburne was sworn in as mayor on April 27, 1891. As mayor, he presided over development of the World's Columbian Exposition. He did not seek reelection 1893, and was succeeded as mayor by Democrat Carter Harrison Sr. on April 17, 1893.

Washburne's final act as mayor was to submit vetoes of two ordinances that the council had already passed, one which served the interests of the Midland Elevated Railway (which stockbroker James R. Keene held significant stake in) and another which would have granted the Hygeia Springs Company permission to supply water into the city. (which would have advanced controversial project by Wisconsin businessman James C. McElroy to pipe water from the famed springs in Waukesha, Wisconsin to the grounds of the world's fair). Similarly, Harrison immediately submitted his own vetoes of these ordinances immediately after delivering his inaugural address. All vetoes were sustained.

Family

In 1883, Washburne married to Annie M. Clarke (1856-1939), a stage actress and the daughter of a prominent Chicago banker; they were the parents of four children.