About Thomas Dyer
Lived 1805 – 1862 (aged 57). Thomas Dyer was an American politician.
Thomas Dyer (January 13, 1805 – June 6, 1862) served as mayor of Chicago, Illinois (1856–1857) for the Democratic Party. He also served as the founding president of the Chicago Board of Trade.
Biography Thomas Dyer was born in Canton, Connecticut on January 13, 1805.
He was a meat-packing partner of former mayor John Putnam Chapin, who was one of Chicago's first meat packers. Chapin built a slaughterhouse on the South Branch of the Chicago River in 1844.
Running as a "pro-Nebraska" Democrat (aligned with Stephen A. Douglas, who publicly backed his candidacy), Dyer won the contentious 1856 Chicago mayoral election, defeating former mayor Francis Cornwall Sherman (who ran as an anti-Nebraska candidate).
He died in Middletown, Connecticut on June 6, 1862, and was buried at Graceland Cemetery in Chicago.
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Important facts
People in Thomas Dyer's life
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Thomas Dyer?
American politician (1805-1862)
When was Thomas Dyer born?
Thomas Dyer was born on 13 January 1805 in Hartford County.
When did Thomas Dyer die?
Thomas Dyer died on 6 June 1862 in Connecticut.
What was Thomas Dyer's occupation?
Thomas Dyer was a politician.
What nationality was Thomas Dyer?
Thomas Dyer was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Thomas Dyer. https://biography.guide/thomas-dyer/
MLA: "Thomas Dyer." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/thomas-dyer/.
Chicago: "Thomas Dyer." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/thomas-dyer/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-22 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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