John Morin Scott

John Morin Scott (October 25, 1789 – April 3, 1858) was an American politician who served as a Whig Party member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1815 to 1816, and again in 1839. He served several terms in the Common and Select Councils for Philadelphia and as president of the Select Council for Philadelphia from 1826 to 1832.

He served as the 63rd mayor of Philadelphia from 1841 to 1844 and was the first mayor of Philadelphia elected by popular vote rather than through appointment by the city councils. As mayor, he oversaw a turbulent time in Philadelphia history including the Lombard Street Riot and the Philadelphia Nativist Riots. He survived an assassination attempt in 1843 when he was shot in the back by a visitor to the mayor's office.

Early life and education Scott was born on October 25, 1789, in New York, New York, to Lewis Allaire Scott and Juliana Sitgreaves. He graduated from Princeton University in 1805, and moved with his mother and sister to Philadelphia He worked as a lawyer in Philadelphia. He served as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1815 to 1816, and again in 1839, by which time he had become a member of the board of trustees of Lafayette College, on which he served from 1826 to 1847. He served several terms in both the Common and Select City Councils for Philadelphia He was nominated as a Whig candidate for representative in the United States Congress but declined the offer. He served as a member of the Constitutional Convention for the State of Pennsylvania from 1837 to 1838. As mayor, he oversaw a turbulent time in Philadelphia history. On May 3, 1843, he survived an assassination attempt when he was shot in the back by a visitor to the mayor's office. and pleaded with rioters to spare the destruction of St. Augustine Church. He was hit in the chest with a rock thrown by protestors and the church was burned. Scott left this post in 1844;

Personal life He married Mary Emlen in 1817 and together they had eight children. He was the grandson of New York City lawyer, John Morin Scott.