John Wesley Ross

John Wesley Ross (born June 23, 1841 in Lewistown , Illinois , † July 29, 1902 in Washington, DC ) was an American politician . Between 1893 and 1898 he was President of the Board of Commissioners Mayor of the federal capital Washington.

Career

John Ross was the eldest son of Congressman Lewis W. Ross (1812–1895). He attended private schools and Lewistown Seminary . After a subsequent law degree at Harvard University and his 1865 admission to the bar, he began to work in Lewistown in this profession. At the same time he embarked on a political career as a member of the Democratic Party . Between 1869 and 1872 he was a member of the Illinois House of Representatives . He then moved his residence and his law firm to Washington DC. Since 1883 he also gave law lectures at Georgetown University there . Between 1888 and 1890 he was a postman in Washington. He was also a member of the local school board from 1888 to 1892 ( Public Schools Board of Trustees ).

In 1890, Ross became a member of the three-person Board of Commissioners that ruled the city of Washington. He belonged to this institution until his death on July 29, 1902. Between 1893 and 1898 he was chairman of this group. In this capacity he practically exercised the office of mayor, even if this title was not officially used between 1871 and 1975. He held the office of Commission President between 1893 and 1898. He died of a heart attack and was buried in his native Lewistown.

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predecessor	Office	successor
John Watkinson Douglass	President of the Board of Commissioners of Washington DC 1893–1898	John Brewer Wright

personal data
SURNAME	Ross, John Wesley
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	American politician
DATE OF BIRTH	June 23, 1841
PLACE OF BIRTH	Lewistown , Illinois
DATE OF DEATH	July 29, 1902
Place of death	Washington, DC