James Curtiss

James Curtiss (born April 7, 1803 in Wethersfield , Connecticut , † November 2, 1859 in Joliet , Illinois ) was an American politician . He was mayor of Chicago from 1847 and 1848, and from 1850 to 1851 .

Career

James Curtiss completed a printing apprenticeship in Philadelphia . He then worked for some time in Eastport ( Maine ) in the newspaper industry, where he edited the Northern Light newspaper . Between 1830 and 1835 he was also a postman in this city. In 1834, investigations were made against him for his post as post office owner. The following year he moved to Chicago, where he published the Chicago Democrat newspaper . There he also worked for a short time as a public prosecutor and as a lawyer, which suggests that he had previously studied law.

Politically, he belonged to the Democratic Party . He became a member of the health committee and the city council. In 1839 he ran unsuccessfully for the office of mayor. He was defeated by Benjamin Wright Raymond . Curtiss subsequently held several local offices in the city and court administration. In 1847 he was elected mayor of Chicago after all. He held this position first for a term between 1847 and 1848. Then he lost in 1848 to James Hutchinson Woodworth , who served two terms as mayor. In 1850 he was re-elected to the office of mayor, which he could exercise for another year. After he had run unsuccessfully to remain or to be reelected for this office in 1851 and 1852, he withdrew from politics.

In 1855, James Curtiss moved to West Urbana, what is now Champaign , where he worked in agriculture. He died on November 2, 1859 after a long illness in Joliet.

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personal data
SURNAME	Curtiss, James
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	American politician
DATE OF BIRTH	April 7, 1803
PLACE OF BIRTH	Wethersfield , Connecticut
DATE OF DEATH	November 2, 1859
Place of death	Joliet , Illinois